Durbin: Congress Gives Approval to Nearly $260 Million in Funding for Illinois Projects

Assistant Senate Majoirty Leader Dick Durbin ^ | September 27, 2008 | Assistant Senate Majoirty Leader Dick Durbin

[mdittmar]

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that the Continuing Resolution approved today by a vote of 78-12 in the U.S. Senate includes $257,103,000 in funding for Illinois projects. The bill, which includes fiscal year 2009 appropriations for the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security and Military Construction – Veterans Affairs, was passed by the House earlier this week and will now go to the President for his signature.

The following projects and provisions are included in the bill:

 

Department of Defense

• Center for Advanced Emergency Response, Chicago: $4.4 million to further develop the Illinois Regional Center for Advanced Medical Response and support and enhance the ability of regional healthcare officials to identify and respond to natural, chemical, biological or radiological events. This cooperative program between the Department of Defense and Rush University Medical Center would provide technical expertise for joint training exercises in the areas of patient decontamination and identification of biological, chemical and radiological agents. These funds would help provide specialized equipment and training to enhance clinical expertise in defending against biological and chemical terrorism and in treating first responders and citizens in the case of acts of terrorism or natural disasters.
• Silicon Alternatives Manufacturing, Bolingbrook: $5.6 million for small business materials development of silicon-based alternative substrates for infrared military devices. Currently, the US is dependent on a single foreign supplier for these materials that are critical to national defense. This funding will focus on research to make infrared materials more sensitive to longer-wavelengths and enable the detection of objects at colder temperatures. The primary contractor is EPIR Technologies in Bolingbrook.
• Columbia College Chicago Construct Program, Chicago: $800,000 for a DOD program to produce interactive simulations that train individuals in addressing military issues as a team in a virtual environment.
• Expansion and Development of Upper and Lower Bionic Limbs, Chicago: $2 million to expand development of bionic limbs for upper and lower body parts, with the ultimate goal of providing members of the United States Armed Forces and others who have suffered the loss or use of upper or lower limbs the opportunity to continue their active lives much like they did before their loss of limbs. The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC) is the primary recipient of this funding.
• Armor Manufacturing Building Roof Repair, Rock Island: $5 million for Phase III of providing a new roof for a 775,000 square foot warehouse located at Rock Island Arsenal. Building #299 was originally constructed in 1942. A new roof will provide a safer, healthier work environment for government employees working in Building #299 on the manufacture and shipment of armor kits.
• Joint Manufacturing & Technology Center Equipment, Rock Island: $4.2 million for part of a "mini-rearmament effort" for the Joint Manufacturing Technology Center (JMTC), which has not been fully rearmed since the mid-1980s. The equipment will significantly contribute to overall factory safety and efficiency. Funding will primarily support the M119 howitzer production program (key to Army’s brigade transformation), M198 howitzer spare parts production, M45 recoil mechanism production, M93 gun mount production and the AC-130 gunship parts production.
• Arsenal Support Program Initiative (ASPI), Rock Island: $8.5 million to renovate unused office or manufacturing space at Rock Island Arsenal to lease to commercial firms. ASPI's goal is to encourage commercial firms to utilize and invest in Rock Island Arsenal (RIA) facilities in order to reduce product and ownership costs. Additionally, ASPI contributes to the increased use of the military industrial base’s critical skill sets, thereby enhancing overall readiness levels. ASPI allows the Rock Island Arsenal to modernize and maintain infrastructure, reduce environmental costs and enhance the surrounding communities’ economies through job creation.
• Burn and Shock Trauma Research, Maywood: $2 million to further Loyola University Medical Center's Burn and Shock Trauma Institute research in burn and trauma in military settings through the purchase of equipment and the expansion of the current scope and capabilities of the Institutes research initiatives. Specific research initiatives include the treatment of infection, clinical trials in the use of blood substantives, treatment of hypovolemic shock, infection, treatment, immune response and wound healing.
• Scorpion Low Cost Helmet Mounted Cueing & Information Display System, Aurora: $4 million to ultimately equip National Guard pilots with an affordable helmet mounted cueing system to enhance mission effectiveness and to promote survivability. This funding will complete the final phase of integration, qualification, and testing of the system that will verify performance, supportability, & applicability to Guard requirements. GENTEX Corporation in Aurora is the primary recipient of this funding.
• Mobile shelters for Illinois National Guard, Wood Dale: $4 million to allow the Illinois National Guard to field a light weight, highly mobile shelter to meet Command and Control needs for Tactical Operations Centers. Equipping the Illinois Army Reserve National Guard units with Expandable Light Air Mobility Shelters (ELAMS) and Contingency Response Communications Systems (CRCS) will reduce the footprint of the headquarters, improve communications interoperability, reduce equipment damage during transport and setup, and free up manpower for critical tasks.
• Second Generation Advanced Battery Technology (3D2 ABT), Peoria: $4 million for Firefly Energy of Peoria to develop a small, powerful battery for military use that also has the potential to enable highly fuel-efficient Plug Hybrid Electric Vehicles. Key accomplishments of funding will include product and technology development in a multi-cell battery format; engineering prototypes tested to military specifications; testing and design iterations; and pilot manufacturing planning.
• High Explosive Air Burst (HEAB) 25mm Ammunition, Marion: $4.4 million to develop High Explosive Air Burst ammunition that will dramatically increase the survivability of the Army Bradley Fighting Vehicle (BFV) and the US Marines' Light Armor Vehicle (LAV), especially in urban terrain. The primary contractor is General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems in Marion.
• Next Generation Body Armor Modeling and Testing, Chicago: $2 million to support the analysis and virtual design of impact-resistant materials to be employed in light, protective vehicle armor and explosives protective gear for military personnel. The Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago is one of the primary research facilities involved in this project.
• Copper Anti-Microbial Research Program, East Alton: $1.6 million to reduce hospital-acquired infections in DOD healthcare facilities. The Copper Anti-Microbial Research Program demonstrates the effectiveness of copper in killing bacteria on its surface. The CDC reports that hospital-acquired infections affect about 2 million Americans every year. Funding in FY09 will complete the conversion of touch surfaces in pilot healthcare facilities to copper alloy surfaces. Funding also supports extensive clinical trials, leading to peer-reviewed publication of the most effective copper-based applications to stem infections in DOD facilities. Olin Corporation in East Alton is the principal recipient of these funds.
• Facilitating Use of Advanced Prosthetic Limb Technology, Chicago: $1.6 million to pursue the development, fitting, component production, and affordability of robotically controlled prosthetic limbs, with a focus on bringing down the cost of imbedded sensors and developing virtual prototype models. The overall goal of this program is to make electronic sensors and prototype prosthetic models more affordable and easier to use. The project team will be led by Sigenics, Inc. and will be supported by the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC), and Alion Science and Technology, all in Chicago.
• Submarine Panoramic Awareness System Program (SPAS), Highland Park: $1.6 million to significantly enhance the ability of the Navy submarines to covertly collect high resolution intelligence information during littoral zone operations. This funding will support development of high resolution, real time, 360-degree submarine periscope image capability. This capability would enhance situation awareness with minimal mast exposure in littoral zones. Today’s submarine periscopes have limited horizontal fields of view. Laurel Industries in Highland Park is one of the primary contractors for this project.
• Lightweight, High-Efficiency Solar Cells for Spacecraft, Niles: $800,000 million to further develop technology to produce solar cells that are paper-thin, flexible, and twice as efficient as current cells. These solar cells will be used in Air Force spacecraft and satellites as the primary energy source. Increasing the efficiency of solar cells while reducing their mass and volume will allow more electrical power to be supplied to satellites and reduce the weight of the power system. MicroLink Devices in Niles is the principal recipient of these funds.
• Proton Therapy, West Chicago: $4.8 million to establish the Northern Illinois Proton Therapy Treatment and Research Center at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois. The proposed center would be a medical research and treatment facility for malignant tumors that are uncontrollable through conventional cancer treatment techniques. Proton therapy is the optimal treatment for small, early-stage tumors located close to sensitive organs. Proton therapy is currently not available in Illinois.
• Neutron/Hadron Therapy, Batavia: $1.2 million to study the effectiveness of neutron therapy for the treatment of veterans with certain cancers. The Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs has mandated such a study. The Northern Illinois University Institute for Neutron Therapy at Fermilab uses excess beam capacity from Fermilab’s proton linear accelerator to generate a neutron beam that treats advanced radio-resistant malignant tumors.
• Illinois Center for Defense Manufacturing, Rockford and Quad Cities: $2 million to administer the Illinois Center for Defense Manufacturing, which works with small companies to bring them into the defense supply chain, and through research and development of innovative manufacturing technologies. The Center is based in Northern Illinois' EIGERLab in the Rockford area. Funding will allow the Center to expand to the Quad Cities area to increase the technology base for applications of Titanium, with a particular focus on enhancing the Rock Island Arsenal’s capability to manufacture equipment using Titanium and its alloys. This project brings advances in manufacturing technology to the Army that the Army can use in producing innovative equipment, contributing to superior mission performance at reduced costs.
• Integrated Power for Aircraft Technologies [INPACT] II, Rockford: $3.5 million to further innovative power technologies and energy optimization. Current technology limitations in secondary power systems and thermal and energy management technologies are a significant barrier to improving military aircraft in terms of range, time to target, persistence, capability, and cost effectiveness. INPACT II’s efforts are critical to reaching future military air vehicle performance goals. Hamilton Sundstrand in Rockford is the primary contractor for this project.
• Stealth Cross-Domain Network Access System, Champaign: $800,000 to develop an advanced cross-domain network access system that allows special operations personnel to safely travel to any destination in the world and protect their identity while still gaining access to classified information. Trusted Computer Solutions in Champaign is the primary contractor for this project.
• Aircrew Life Support Equipment Radio Frequency ID (RFID) Initiative, Scott Air Force Base: $800,000 to complete the development and fielding of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology within the Automated Life Support Equipment Records Tracking System. CDO Technologies, Inc. will use the funds to support the acquisition of hardware, software, training, and technical services to incorporate state-of-the-art RFID technology into Aircrew Life Support Equipment and Records Tracking System into Scott Air Force Base. Specific aircrew equipment managed by the system includes: night vision goggles, body armor, chemical/biological defense and detection units, survival items, and escape equipment.
• Next Generation Commercial Off the Shelf (COTS) Diesel Engines for Ground Vehicles, Melrose Park: $4 million to develop a next generation diesel engine that can meet the requirements for users in both the Army and commercial sectors. Specifically, the project will pursue commercial technology for diesel engines with increased power density and improved fuel economy. This effort will ensure the availability of domestically produced, efficient, lightweight diesel engines for future military use. Navistar in Melrose Park is the primary contractor for this project.
• C-40D Aircraft, Scott Air Force Base: $88 million to procure one C - 40D aircraft for the 932nd Air Force Reserve Wing and the 375th Airlift Wing at Scott AFB. This plane is needed in order to recapitalize the 932nd/375th fleet to continue to meet airlift requirements and support national policy. The C-40D provides a flexible, multi-role aircraft that can be configured to support executive travel, and can be reconfigured for medical evacuation, humanitarian support, and movement of passengers and/or cargo. The Air Force identified three C-40Ds for the Air Force Reserve on its FY09 Unfunded Requirements List and the Air Force Reserve has identified it as its number one request on its FY09 Combined Unfunded Requirements List.

 

Homeland Security

• EJ&E Railroad Bridge, Morris: $2 million to improve the EJ&E Bridge on the Illinois River, near Morris, IL. To date, more than $15 million has been appropriated for the EJ&E Bridge, which is hit by marine vessels more often than any other bridge in America. Repair of the bridge is a priority for the United States Coast Guard.

 

Military Construction – Veterans Affairs

• Readiness Center, Urbana Armory: $16.186 million to construct a Readiness Center at the Urbana Armory. The current facility is over 50 years old and lacks necessary space for training, administrative and storage for the two units at the installation. There is very limited military vehicle parking in addition to inadequate heating, plumbing, and electrical systems. Funding would allow for a Readiness Center that would provide adequate classrooms, supply rooms, arms vaults, showers, and kitchen facilities in order to improve the quality of life of current units and allow them to meet mission essential training requirements.
• C-130 Squadron Operations Facility, Greater Peoria Regional Airport, Illinois: $400,000 for a Squadron Operations Facility at the Greater Peoria Regional Airport. The 182nd Airlift Wing supports flying operations for eight C-130H aircraft. The 182AW requires an adequately sized and properly configured facility to accommodate airlift squadron operations. Functions to be accommodated include, but are not limited to the following: weapons and tactics, intelligence; briefing/debriefing; flight planning, safety, and records; physical training; life support; survival equipment including space to repair parachutes, life rafts, and other emergency gear; and aircrew chemical warfare equipment. Without a new facility, mission capability and response are degraded; aircrews cannot prepare for missions or train properly. Senator Durbin worked with Congressman LaHood to secure funds.
• Joint Intelligence Operations Center, Scott Air Force Base: $13.977 million to construct a new Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility Joint Intelligence Operations Center as an addition to the United States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) headquarters complex, located at Scott Air Force Base. The mission of the Joint Intelligence Operations Center is to provide the USTRANSCOM commander with the situational awareness and long-range analysis needed to provide for transportation requirements of both personnel and materiel throughout the world in support of ongoing operations for the global war on terror. To effectively carry out this critical mission, the Joint Intelligence Operations Center requires an adequately sized and effectively configured facility with adequate access and parking that consolidates USTRANSCOM intelligence personnel with other national intelligence agency representatives to provide coherent, timely, actionable intelligence.
• RTC Special Programs Barracks, Great Lakes Naval Training Center: $62.940 million for a multi-story building to accommodate up to 900 recruits and 120 other Navy personnel. New recruits will be housed in an open bay barracks with community restrooms. The 120 non-recruit Navy personnel will be housed in 70 rooms with private baths, sleeping/living rooms, and closets. Classrooms, administrative space, and a dining hall are also included.

[HoosierHawk]

It worked for Rostenkowski too, But only for so long.

That's true. But Rostenkowski was involved with the Congessional Post Office scandal, among other things. I believe Rosty did some time as well.

Believe me, I'd love to share your sentiment, but I don't think Durbin's leaving the Senate soon.

[PhilCollins]

I live in Illinois, and I agree that Durbin won’t leave the Senate soon. If you know anyone who lives in Illinois, please tell them about Durbin’s conservative opponent, Chad Koppie. Koppie is pro-tax cuts, pro-spending cuts, pro-life, pro-gun rights, and anti-illegal alien. His site is www.koppieforsenate.com.

[HoosierHawk]

What about Steve Sauerberg? He has been dumping money into the Chicago TV/Radio market and appears to be conservative. Or more conservative than most Illinois Republicans.

[PhilCollins]

Sauerberg is pro-choice, pro-gun control, and pro-Hillarycare. He should have run in the democrat primary.

[HoosierHawk]

Thanks for your clarification. Seems like he’s a typical Illinois Republican.