Wyden, Merkley Announce $28 Million in Oregon Projects in Defense Appropriations Bill
Bill Includes Funding to Help Returning Servicemembers Adjust to Life After Deployments
Washington, D.C. – Continuing efforts to provide Oregon servicemembers, National Guard members and reservists with the equipment and services they need while serving in combat and particularly when they transition back to civilian life, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) have announced more than $28 million in funding as part of the defense appropriations bill. The bill has been agreed to by the Appropriations Committee and will head to the Senate floor for full consideration and passage.
“The funding in this bill will continue to help Oregon servicemembers adjust to civilian life after months of deployment,” Wyden said. “It also brings job creating projects into the state and ensures that the U.S. military is well equipped with the latest combat and medical technology.”
“For many servicemembers in the field of duty, having access to the best technology available can make a difference in saving lives,” said Merkley. “It’s critical that our soldiers and National Guardsmen have the best technologies available to treat injuries and protect them while serving. This funding will also provide servicemembers and their families the resources needed to handle the many challenges they’ll face upon returning home.”
This bill must now be passed by the Senate, reconciled with the House version and sent to the President for signature before becoming law.
Projects for Oregon include:
Oregon National Guard Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program – Oregon National Guard, Statewide - $2,000,000
This funding will fulfill the aimed objectives of the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program, addressing the needs specific to National Guardsmen, Reserve member and their families. Funding will be used to continue existing services for members and their families including outreach to returning members through the one-stop “Fort Oregon” website for up-to-date information on healthcare and employment opportunities as well as the continued work on the state’s suicide hotline for returning servicemembers.
ONAMI Safer Nanomaterials and Nanomanufacturing - UO, OSU, PSU, OHSU, Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute - $4,000,000
Funding will develop inherently safer and greener nanomaterials and nanomanufacturing methods, which directly impact the Defense Department’s need for high performance materials.
High Altitude Shuttle System (HASS) – GSSL, Inc. dba Near Space Corp (NSC), Tillamook - $4,000,000
This funding will build affordable, integrated, high altitude platforms that can provide persistent battle coverage using NSC’s tactical ballon and autonomous payload return vehicle technologies.
ONAMI Nanoelectronics, Nanometrology and Nanobiotechnology (N3I) - UO, OSU, PSU, OHSU, Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute - $3,000,000
This funding will address important applications of nanotechnology in three nanoscale areas: measurement/imaging, electronics, and biomedicine.
Transportable Transponder Landing System (TTLS) - Advanced Navigation & Positioning Corp, Hood River - $3,000,000
This funding will go toward the purchase of a precision approach landing and surveillance system designed for rapid deployment to establish a remote Air Traffic Control and landing aid that enables many types of military aircraft to recover efficiently and safely in any terrain and in severe weather conditions, day or night.
Amputee Skin Breakdown Research and Development – SAM Medical Products, Tigard - $3,000,000 -
This funding will produce a medical dressing with a unique gliding dome designed to reduce shear and friction at the wound site, which aids in the prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers (bedsores). This dressing would be especially beneficial to returning U.S. servicemembers with traumatic lower extremity amputations.
Portable Helicopter Oxygen Delivery System (PHODS) Console – Mountain High Equipment and Supply Co., Deschutes - $2,500,000 –
This funding will provide portable oxygen delivery systems for use in helicopter operations in Afghanistan. The PHODS enables pilots, crew and passengers to make the best use of available oxygen by automatically adjusting to their individual breathing rhythms and supplying exactly the amount of oxygen needed at varying altitudes.
ARL-ONAMI Center for Nanoarchitectures for Enhanced Performance – UO, OSU, PSU, OHSU, Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute - $2,000,000
This will fund a collaborative grant agreement to implement Phase II of a program to create early stage technology for future Army sensing, communications, portable energy storage and generation and thermal management requirements using cutting edge nanotechnology.
SiC RF Power for Airborne Avionics and Radar - Microsemi Corp - Power Products Group, Deschutes - $2,000,000
This funding continues the development of critical components for data communication and radar systems. The components, radio frequency transistors for power amplifiers, use silicon carbide semiconductor technology in order to shrink the physical size and weight of avionics systems while expanding system bandwidth.
Treatment of Battlefield Spinal Cord and Burn Injuries – Oregon Biomedical Engineering Institute, Portland - $2,000,000
This program will fund medical research into two tragic injuries which strike soldiers -- spinal trauma and burns. Spinal cord injury is normally the result of trauma resulting in swelling which cuts blood supply, leading to cell death and paralysis. It will also fund research into burn treatments that inject recombinant elastin proteins into healing tissue to maintain the normal functionality of healed skin.
PT-1 SC Ballistic Eyewear and CAG-1 Combat Glove Kit – Oregon National Guard - $500,000
This funding will purchase 7,000 sets of ballistic eyewear and 7,000 pairs of combat gloves for use by the Oregon National Guard. Military doctors and ophthalmologists serving in Iraq report that 10 percent of all combat troops are treated for battle related eye damage. Combat gloves give servicemembers protection while navigating through rough terrain without loss of dexterity and tactility.
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