(Washington D.C.) By a vote of 396-31, the U.S. House of Representatives has approved a $512.9 billion defense spending bill that provides funding for projects at Bell Helicopter/Textron and Pantex. Today's vote comes one week after the Defense Authorization Act of 2007 was approved by the House Armed Services Committee.

Congressman Mac Thornberry (TX-13), a member of the Armed Services Committee, voted in favor of the bill.

"With the work they do, the folks at Bell Helicopter and Pantex are making significant contributions to our national security. I am glad the importance of that work is recognized by my House colleagues," said Thornberry.

The bill's funding for projects involving Bell Helicopter's Amarillo plant includes:

• $2.29 billion for the V-22 Osprey program (including the purchase of 14 MV-22s and 2 CV-22s)

• $454 million to upgrade 18 helicopters for the Marines' H-1 program

• $643 million for continued research and development of the new Presidential helicopter (for which part of the assembly work will be performed at Bell's Amarillo plant)

The bill's funding for Pantex totals $479.2 million. The total includes an additional $25 million above the President's budget request that Congressman Thornberry secured for upgrading facilities and security at the plant.

The Defense Authorization Act is an annual bill that funds a broad array of national security programs. Highlights of this year's bill include a 2.7 percent raise for members of the Armed Forces and the authorization of $50 billion in supplemental funding for operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere in the Global War on Terror.

Once the Senate completes work on its version of the defense authorization bill, a conference committee will be appointed to create a final version for both chambers to vote on.

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