Matsui Announces $8.5 Million for Sacramento Projects in Defense Appropriations Bill Passed Today
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
CONTACT: MARA LEE
(202) 225-7163
Matsui Announces $8.5 Million for Sacramento Projects in Defense Appropriations Bill Passed TodayFederal Funding Will Support Troops; Local Research and Development
Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-Sacramento) secured $8.5 million for Sacramento-area projects in the Department of Defense Fiscal Year 2010 Appropriations Bill passed today by the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill passed today will keep a commitment to our troops and their families with a 3.4% pay raise for our military, first class medical care, and strong support for family programs, as well as funding for the revitalization of closed military bases. The legislation continues efforts to end the practice of "stop loss" and gives our soldiers additional pay for every month their term of service is involuntarily extended.
The bill provides critical funding for four Sacramento projects: the Military Burn Trauma Research Program; microchip production technology at the Defense Microelectronics Activity (DMEA); funding for the Renewable Energy Testing Center, which is working with the Department of Defense on developing clean energy technology; and infrastructure improvements at the former McClellan Air Force Base.
Representative Matsui was instrumental in securing these funds at the federal level and recognizes the important role these institutions play in the Sacramento community. "This legislation demonstrates Congress's commitment to our troops and their families by offering high-quality medical care to our military personnel, and by helping make our national defense programs more efficient and more effective," she said. "I am pleased that the additional funding to revitalize McClellan Park has been included in this bill."
Sacramento projects will receive the following funding:
Military Burn Trauma Research Program - $4.5 Million
Funding will support research to examine the best practices and devise new therapies for treating severe burn injuries, which affect more than a million people every year. Funding will be used to conduct clinical burn research trials, covering the costs of enrolling patients with similar burn injuries in multiple institutions in a treatment program to treat burns sustained during military service. The Military Burn Trauma Research Program will largely be run out of the U.C. Davis Medical Center, which will serve as the central hub of this nationwide burn research project.
Defense Microelectronics Activity to Support Increased Functionality of Microchips- $2.4 Million
Defense Microelectronics Activity, an agency within the Department of Defense that is located at McClellan Business Park, will receive $2.4 million for advanced fabrication technology used in the production of microchips. This project will prolong the life and improve the performance of military systems currently in the field by developing microcircuits, which are critical for systems operation, and keep the high-tech jobs required for this research in the Sacramento community.
Renewable Energy Testing Center - $800,000
The Renewable Energy Testing Center, which evaluates next-generation energy and fuel production technologies for the military, will receive $800,000 to support their efforts to reduce our military's and our country's dependence on foreign oil. The Center's work will help the military become more energy efficient and use more clean fuels. The Center is located at McClellan Business Park.
Sacramento County for McClellan Air Force Base Infrastructure Improvements - $800,000
Sacramento County will receive $800,000 to improve residential, commercial, business, and aviation access into and through the former McClellan Air Force Base. This funding will also help the county improve the site's infrastructure and attract business tenants as it continues to be redeveloped.
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