[StBernard] Rep. Baker lauds House passage of Defense Appropriations bill, announces funding included for Baton Rouge area

[Westley Annis]

Rep. Baker lauds House passage of Defense Appropriations bill, announces funding included for Baton Rouge area   

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Richard Baker, R-Baton Rouge, today lauded House passage of the Defense Appropriations bill.  This important legislation includes $3.5 million for Baton Rouge area projects, $3 billion for the Road Home program, and essential funding for our Armed Forces.    

  

H.R. 3222, the “Department of Defense Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2008”, overwhelmingly passed the House this afternoon by a 400-15 vote and provides funding for the following:



*	Pennington Biomedical Research Center - $2 million for “Four Tasks to Address Personnel Readiness and Warfighter Performance” 

The Pennington Biomedical Research Center , a leader in nutritional research, will continue military nutrition research that focuses on the improvement of the health and performance of American Armed Forces through the military nutrition research project. 

*	Louisiana State University- $1.5 million through the United States Air Force (USAF) Minority Leaders Program 

LSU will continue research and development through the USAF Minority Leaders Program with students and professors from Historically Black Colleges and Universities/Minority Institutions. This program will continue to enhance the ability of students to enter the defense field, improve the knowledge of university professors on defense science and technology needs, and assist in transitioning solutions to meet essential requirements of the USAF.   

*	Innovative Emergency Management (IEM)- $1 million for “Capabilities Study for IED Detection” 

IEM will receive funding to assist the military in combating improvised explosive devices (IEDs), the deadly roadside bombs being used in Iraq . Rapid fielding of technologies capable of IED detection and neutralization has been necessary to counter the threat employed by terrorists and insurgents.    

“The Baton Rouge community continues to support our military on multiple fronts.  This funding will allow Pennington, LSU and IEM to continue essential research and development to assist the brave men and women serving in uniform,” stated Rep. Baker. “Everyone in Louisiana should be proud of the work these organizations are doing to help keep Americans safe.”   

The Defense bill also includes $3 billion to plug a funding shortfall in Governor Blanco’s Road Home program.    

“This funding is crucial to the thousands of Louisiana citizens who have had to navigate a bureaucratic maze and have yet to receive Road Home grants,” Baker said.  “ Louisiana citizens have long been ready to rebuild their homes, and I am pleased that these funds have been included in the Defense bill. It is my hope, for the sake of the citizens who have endured this process for too long, that this funding will finally fill the gap.”   

 Other key provisions in the bill include:   

*        Military Pay: Provides for a 3.5 percent pay increase for all service members; 

*        Defense Health Program:  Provides $1.9 billion to fully fund an anticipated shortfall in the TRICARE health program for active military and military retirees; 

*        Military Personnel: Supports efforts to grow the force, including 7,000 new members of the Army, 5,000 new Marines, and 1,300 new Army National Guard; 

*        MRAPs and Body Armor: Provides $11.6 billion for Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles and increases funding for body armor and other protective equipment for the Special Operations Command; 

*        National Guard: Adds $980 million to help National Guard and Reserve forces acquire replacement equipment for assets lost or damaged during an overseas deployment; and 

*        Support for Military Families: Includes $2.6 billion to provide military families with additional counselors, teachers, and child care providers.   

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For more news about Congressman Baker, please visit 

www.baker.house.gov <http://www.baker.house.gov/>