Hayworth Announces Defense Contracts Headed to Arizona

Bipartisan Majority Supports FY07 Defense Appropriations Act WASHINGTON, D.C. Congressman J.D. Hayworth (R-Ariz.) has announced that millions of dollars in defense appropriations contracts are slated for Arizona projects designed to fight the War on Terror. The fiscal year 2007 Defense Appropriations bill passed the House on Tuesday. Our soldiers out in the field need to know that they are being given all the necessary tools to fight and win the War on Terror, says Rep. Hayworth. With the bipartisan support this legislation received we are sending a strong, clear message to the men and women in uniform that we stand with them and are committed to giving them the tools they need to get the job done. It is crucial that we develop the new technology needed to track terrorists while protecting and enriching the lives of our fighting men and women. This bill does that by providing improved armor, ammunition and technology, a pay increase and combat compensation, health care for guard and reservists, better housing for military families, and much more. The Department of Defense Appropriations Act contains more than $1 billion less in earmarks than last years bill and $2.7 billion less than last years conference report. Provisions in the legislation include: $1.5 billion to develop improvised explosive device countermeasures; An additional $725 million for personnel force protection items, including body armor; Full funding for the 2.2 percent military pay raise, effective Jan. 1, 2007; $500 million above the presidents request for National Guard equipment needs. Overall Budgetary Highlights: Military Personnel - $84.9 billion Operations and Maintenance - $120.5 billion Procurement - $81.8 billion Research, Development, Test and Evaluation - $75.3 billion Revolving and Management Funds - $2.4 billion Emergency Wartime Appropriations - $50.0 billion Arizona companies will pitch into the war effort as well. $1.7 million will be added to the Armys Flexible Display Initiative. The Army instituted a public-private partnership with Arizona State University and private sector companies to continue to develop and manufacture cutting edge technology. The partnership is working on portable, paper thin, low-power display monitors used by soldiers for communications purposes in combat situations. Robertson Aviation of Tempe will receive $9.3 million to modify UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters. Dillon Arrow of Scottsdale will receive $3.3 million for a M134D-T mini gun system for aircraft in the SOAR inventory. Armor Holdings will receive $1.2 million for the installation of the Cockpit Air Bag System on UH-60 Black Hawk and OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopters.