[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 77 (Thursday, June 15, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1164]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 IN CELEBRATION OF THE DELIVERY OF THE 28TH AND FINAL M31 MARINE CORPS 
 EXPEDITIONARY ARRESTING GEAR SYSTEM TO THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

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                            HON. CURT WELDON

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 15, 2006

  Mr. WELDON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, today, June 15, a 
celebration is being held in Aston, Pennsylvania, marking the delivery 
of the 28th and final M31 Marine Corps Expeditionary Arresting Gear 
System, MCEAGS, to the United States Marine Corps.
  Initial production of the Expeditionary Arresting Gear started in 
March of 2002 and the final delivery of the one on June 15 will provide 
the Marine Corps full operational capability for the Expeditionary 
Arresting Gear. The M31 Arresting Gear is now employed worldwide, 
including operations in Iraq. The great news is that the contractor, 
Engineered Arresting Systems Corporation, ESCO, delivered all these 
systems on schedule and under cost.
  The M31 program is unique and a great success story. Designed and 
developed under an integrated product team arrangement, the Marines, 
NAVAIR Lakehurst and the contractor have produced equipment that 
demonstrated meeting Marine Corps requirements at government test 
facilities. Additionally, ESCO is providing all spare parts and 
logistics support for the system. Best of all--it works. It works very 
well. ESCO, in conjunction with its teammates of the M31 Integrated 
Product Team from NAVAIR Expeditionary Airfield Support Team at 
Lakehurst, NJ have been providing full logistics to the fielded M31 
systems for the past 4 years. This team's support includes full system 
supply support, depot maintenance, continuing, engineering support and 
configuration management. A 5-year indefinite delivery, indefinite 
quantity contract was put in place in December 2005 to provide the 
above support through December 2010.
  Mr. Speaker, the other great story is the teamwork between ESCO and 
the Naval Air Systems Command Team. The support and dedication of 
personnel from both NAVAIR, Lakehurst, New Jersey and Patuxent River, 
Maryland cannot be overemphasized. Both the military and civilian 
government employees have played a very active and crucial role in the 
development, production, fielding and support of the M31 Expeditionary 
Arresting Gear System.
  This program is a model program for the entire Department of Defense 
to emulate. Congratulations to ESCO and the Naval Air Systems Command 
for a job ``well done.''




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