John McHugh

	Capitol

Washington, Jun 25 - U.S. Congressman John M. McHugh (R-Pierrepont Manor) announced that projects providing direct benefit to the 23rd Congressional District were included in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of FY 2010 that passed the House of Representatives today by a vote of 389-22.

“This year’s Defense Authorization Act is a very good bill and I was proud to vote in favor of it today in the House. I am particularly pleased that the bill includes funding for important projects in our district that will provide benefit to our troops and their families. Supporting our military has always been a top priority for me since I began serving in Congress in 1993 and this bill provides needed resources and support,” McHugh said.

Specific projects that will benefit the 23rd District of New York:

• Fort Drum All Weather Marksmanship Facility - the NDAA provides $8,200,000 to construct an All Weather Marksmanship Facility. Currently, Fort Drum has only one operational All Weather Marksmanship Facility. The project is required to provide year round live fire training to more efficiently support soldiers in meeting weapons proficiency and qualification standards, and minimize the amount of time required to complete training. The Light Infantry Doctrine and the missions of the 10th Mountain Division require higher than normal levels of marksmanship proficiency and fire discipline.
• Fort Drum Regional Health Planning Organization – the NDAA provides $430,000 to support the Fort Drum Regional Health Planning Organization.
• Trudeau Institute – the NDAA provides $8 million to the Trudeau Institute in Saranac Lake, NY for the U.S. Navy Pandemic Influenza Vaccine Program. Prevention of seasonal and pandemic influenza remains a significant unmet need for the U.S. Armed Forces. The proposed project will advance the development of novel techniques for enhancing vaccine efficacy to promote Force Readiness and general health of the members of the Armed Services and their dependents.
• Clarkson University/ITT – the NDAA provides $5 million for a project at Clarkson University in Potsdam, New York and ITT in Rome, NY to conceptualize and demonstrate the technologies necessary to systematically coordinate, plan, and execute offensive cyber campaigns; determine effects associated with an offensive cyber weapon; monitor/evaluate events that occur in cyberspace; and ultimately achieve situational awareness of cyberspace with an overall goal of achieving dominance within that critical realm.
• Legend Technologies - the NDAA provides $2 million to Legend Technologies in Keeseville, NY for continued development and production of a remote sighting system. Currently available optical technologies are not optimal for the various "Robotic" platforms currently being fielded. These platforms are only as good as their ability to “see.” The final funding installment will allow for the outfitting of a production facility in Keeseville, New York for manufacture of the Remote Sighting System from a domestic source.