[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 63 (Friday, May 13, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E969-E970]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    WAIVING POINTS OF ORDER AGAINST CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 1268, 
 EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT FOR DEFENSE, THE GLOBAL WAR 
                ON TERROR, AND TSUNAMI RELIEF ACT, 2005

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                               speech of

                         HON. MICHAEL T. McCAUL

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 5, 2005

  Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the conference 
agreement for the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill. I wish to 
commend the conferees for their work in bringing this important 
legislation to the House floor. The funding provided by this bill not 
only helps insure that our military will have the resources and 
capabilities necessary to prevail in the global war on terror, but it 
also supports the Pentagon's important R&D programs.
  I recently noted concerns published by two former defense officials 
over possible reductions in future defense advanced technology 
development. While I am confident that this Administration and the 
Congress will continue to provide ample funding for the military's R&D 
programs, it is important to underscore how these programs help 
incubate technologies with important military applications being 
developed by small companies.
  My Congressional district has a number of small companies with 
innovative new technologies that promise significant benefits to the 
military. Three of these companies have developed technologies that 
offer good examples of private initiatives ready to be advanced for 
military use in partnership with the Defense Department. The funding in 
this bill will make this partnership possible.
  One company, Zebra Imaging, has developed a 3-D hologram technology 
that now produces three-dimensional imagery of battlefield information 
imagery for military planning and reconnaissance purposes. The first of 
these imaging systems is now being deployed by the Army for use in 
Iraq, with a second system planned. Several defense R&D programs are 
assessing advanced applications of this technology for the future 
warfighter.
  A second company, Teravicta Technologies, has engineered advanced 
radio frequency microelectro-mechanical (RF MEMS) switches and relays 
that provide much greater efficiency and performance in military 
electronics and communications systems, such as radar and satellite 
communications, as well as cell phones and other mobile wireless 
devices.
  Pinion Software, the third example, is developing a simple system for 
securing sensitive

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data stored in and transmitted by wireless mobile devices. The 
widespread and growing military use of wireless handheld devices and 
laptop computers has an accompanying security threat that is 
increasingly serious and will be protected by this technology.
  These and other promising new technologies are fostered by the R&D 
programs funded by this bill and other defense appropriations. I urge 
the continued support of technologies as described here, which will 
provide the military important new capabilities.

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