WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS) today announced that late last night, the Senate passed the 2010 Department of Defense Appropriations bill, which includes more than $40.8 million in important Kansas projects.

"Kansas continues to play a critical role in the nation’s defense," Senator Roberts said. "These investments will advance the research and manufacturing of cutting edge technologies for our men and women in uniform."

Senator Roberts personally worked to secure the following projects:

• $4 million for Hawker Beechcraft: AT-6B Capabilities Demonstration for the Air National Guard.
• $6 million for The Boeing Company: B-52 Tactical Data Link Capability.
• $2 million for the University of Kansas (KU): Academic Support and Research Compliance for Knowledge Gathering. This program will continue a partnership begun last year between KU and the Combined Arms Center (CAC) at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas through which KU offers the Army a new MA program for Special Forces Officers.
This program will continue a partnership begun last year between KU and the Combined Arms Center (CAC) at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas through which KU offers the Army a new MA program for Special Forces Officers.
• $3.2 million EaglePicher Technologies LLC (Pittsburg) : Advanced Hybrid Chemistry for Portable Power. This project will develop advanced hybrid chemistry that will provide the Army with the increased battery performance needed in future combat.
This project will develop advanced hybrid chemistry that will provide the Army with the increased battery performance needed in future combat.
• $6 million for Kansas State University (KSU): Armed Forces Health and Food Supply Research. This project allows KSU to conduct threat and vulnerability analysis of foreign disease agents and food processing and handling systems. Research allows the intelligence community to develop threat countermeasures, intelligence support, and analysis capabilities in support of U.S. forces deployed throughout the world.
This project allows KSU to conduct threat and vulnerability analysis of foreign disease agents and food processing and handling systems. Research allows the intelligence community to develop threat countermeasures, intelligence support, and analysis capabilities in support of U.S. forces deployed throughout the world.
• $2 million For KSU: Biosecurity Research for Soldier Food Safety. This project would allow scientists to develop methods and equipment to determine biohazards in soldiers’ food supply.
This project would allow scientists to develop methods and equipment to determine biohazards in soldiers’ food supply.
• $3 million for Kaman Aerospace Corporation- Plastic Fabricating Division (Wichita): Composite Small Main Rotor Blades.
• $2 million for NanoScale Corporation (Manhattan): Contaminated Human Remains Pouch. The transport of contaminated human remains is important in both combat and humanitarian military actions. However, the current technology has remained largely unchanged for decades. Handlers of contaminated and potentially contaminated human remains face significant biological and chemical threats.
The transport of contaminated human remains is important in both combat and humanitarian military actions. However, the current technology has remained largely unchanged for decades. Handlers of contaminated and potentially contaminated human remains face significant biological and chemical threats.
• $3 million for KSU and M2 Technologies: Expeditionary Capabilities Laboratory, Marine Corps PEO Land Systems. This program produces practical tools to address urgent needs in Iraq and Afghanistan and furthers defense modernization efforts.
This program produces practical tools to address urgent needs in Iraq and Afghanistan and furthers defense modernization efforts.
• $2 million for Iron Tree Research (Lansing): Long Range Hypersonic Interceptor. This project will continue development of the Long-Range Hypersonic Interceptor (LRHI), providing the U.S. military the capability to rapidly intercept ballistic missiles at great distance.
This project will continue development of the Long-Range Hypersonic Interceptor (LRHI), providing the U.S. military the capability to rapidly intercept ballistic missiles at great distance.
• $3 million for Wichita State University and Miltec Research and Technology (Mississippi): Materials Integrity Management Research for the Air Force.
• $2 million for KSU: Professional Development Education, Army Command and General Staff College (CGSC) Leadership Training. This program was developed jointly between the CGSC at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and KSU to provide Masters and Doctorate degrees in Security Studies for students and faculty at the CGSC.
This program was developed jointly between the CGSC at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and KSU to provide Masters and Doctorate degrees in Security Studies for students and faculty at the CGSC.
• $2 million for Atchison Steel Castings & Machining: Superior Weapons Systems through Castings. This program will provide rapid, cost-effective solutions in the procurement of high-quality critical castings used in legacy systems in ongoing operations worldwide.
This program will provide rapid, cost-effective solutions in the procurement of high-quality critical castings used in legacy systems in ongoing operations worldwide.

The bill must now go to a conference committee to resolve differences in the House of Representatives and Senate versions of the bill. The conference report must then be approved by both chambers before it heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law.

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