WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Rep. John L. Mica announced today that the House has approved a defense package which includes $10 million to strengthen and expand the high-tech simulation industry in Central Florida.
"These funds will help ensure Central Florida’s position as a national center for simulation and training activities," Mica said. "Congress recognizes the merits of using this cost-effective technology."
The full House is expected to pass the FY 2000 Defense Appropriations Act today. The bill includes $5 million for modeling and simulation activity through the Pentagon’s Live Fire Testing and Training Initiative (LFT&TI), and $5 million for a new, Internet-based program called Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL).
Initiated by Mica in 1996, the LFT&TI is a collaborative effort between the four military simulation agencies, private industry and the University of Central Florida. The program applies simulation technologies to actual training exercises, and has resulted in new advances such as the Human Live Patient Simulator which is now being used to train military and civilian doctors.
The House also supported Mica’s request to develop the ADL program. This first-time appropriation of $5 million will combine simulation and Internet technology for education and training purposes. Soldiers and sailors, regardless of where they are stationed, will be able to access interactive instructional and classroom programs through the Internet. Future use of the ADL program will result in cost-savings since military personnel who have access to the Internet will not need to physically travel to specific training and educational facilities.
"Continuing the successful Live Fire programs and expanding the use of simulations on the Internet and in education will help anchor our community in this high-tech industry," Mica continued. "The bulk of this funding will go directly to the Research Park, where UCF, the military and private industry partner to make the Center of Excellence in education, simulation and training."
A similar defense appropriations bill has also been passed by the Senate, and a House-Senate conference must meet to resolve differences between the measures before the funding bill can become law.