Funding Will Benefit Fort Hood, Texas A&M System, University of Texas

Washington, DC, Jun 23, 2006 - Representative John Carter (TX-31), a member of the House Appropriations Committee, announced that funding has been secured for a number of projects that will benefit the 31^st District in the House passed Fiscal Year 2007 Department of Defense Appropriations bill.

“I remain committed to providing our military with the tools and resources they need to successfully serve and protect America,” Congressman Carter said. “I am pleased to have secured funding for critical projects that enhance our nation’s defense. By funding operation and maintenance, as well as research and development projects, we can ensure that our military remains the best and strongest in the world.”

Congressman Carter worked to secure funding for the following projects that benefit Central Texas:

· $2 million for Fort Hood Training Lands Restoration. This funding will be used to rehabilitate training lands on Fort Hood through a compost and seeding program. In addition, this program will verify the effectiveness of training land rehabilitation efforts.

· $2.7 million to Fort Hood, the University of Texas, and Texas A&M for digitization support. This program has provided high-end technical support for the problems encountered during the transformation of the Army’s digitization program.

· $900,000 for Imaging Research Center at the University of Texas. This funding will give researchers access to tools that will assist in the treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, which is being experience by a number of deployed service members. Access to the Magnetic Resonance Imaging instrument will allow faculty and researchers to investigate the underlying mechanisms of other psychological disorders, as well as drug and alcohol addiction. Cong. Carter and Cong. McCaul worked together to secure this funding.

· $3 million for the Army Legacy Logistic Systems Modernization (SAMS-E). This funding will go toward the procurement and continued modernization of SAMS-E, which updates the existing DOS-based Army inventory tracking system into a more efficient and user friendly Windows environment.

· $2 million to Texas A&M University for Phase II of Bioaerosol Sampling research. The research funds will allow Texas A&M to continue the development of advanced technology that will detect and protect against biological agents. The technology targeted for force protection would be specifically applicable to military bases, airbases, and port facilities. Cong. Carter has secured funds for this program in previous years.