[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 158 (Tuesday, September 30, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2177-E2178]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          EARMARK DECLARATION

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                            HON. DEAN HELLER

                               of nevada

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 29, 2008

  Mr. HELLER of Nevada. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican 
Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following 
information for publication in the Congressional Record regarding 
earmarks I received as part of H.R. 2638. This bill was the FY09 
continuing resolution, and it also included a section titled, 
``Disaster Relief and Recovery Supplemental Appropriations Act'' as 
well as three of the annual appropriations bills for fiscal year 2009: 
the Department of Defense Appropriations Act (Division C); the 
Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act (Division D); and 
the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act 
(Division E).
  Within the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, I requested and 
the committee approved funding for the following projects:
  $1.92 million for the Lightweight Cannon Recoil Reduction from the 
Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Army account. This 
recipient of these funds will be Software and Engineering Assoc, Inc., 
a small business computer software and engineering firm in Carson City, 
Nevada (1802 N. Carson Street, Suite 200, Carson, Nevada 89701). The 
firm specializes in developing computer software for the design and 
analysis of combustion devices. The funds being requested are to 
support the Army's Future Combat System (FCS), specifically for 
reducing the weight of the cannon system. The FCS has an operational 
requirement to be as close to 20 tons as possible so that it can be 
rapidly transported and still maintain the fighting capabilities of the 
67 ton M1 tank that is one of the systems FCS is expected to replace. A 
new concept is needed for the 120mm cannon system for FCS. This program 
will enable a 40 to 50 percent reduction in the weight of the 120mm 
cannon systems that is necessary to meet the weight goals for the 
Manned Combat System (FCS version of a tank) and the 155 mm NLOS-C 
vehicles (FCS self propelled howitzer).
  $1.6 million for a Reconfigurable Tooling System from the Research, 
Development, Test and Evaluation, Army Account. The recipient of these 
funds will be 2 Phase in Dayton, Nevada (located at PO Box 730, Dayton, 
Nevada 89403. The firm specializes in developing reconfigurable tooling 
systems (RTS) which can make or repair parts onsite. Systems are being 
used and tested at Army and

[[Page E2178]]

Marine Corps Depots currently, with positive results. This funding will 
provide Army and Marine Corps Aviation Commands repair capability in 
theater, so forces will not have to wait for the time-consuming supply 
system to provide parts. To alleviate this delay, a portable rapid 
reconfigurable tooling system is being developed that can repair the 
specific tool onsite. Aircraft would be able to be put back into 
operational status faster, giving the Theater Commander more assets to 
deploy. Two systems were previously delivered to the Corpus Christi 
Army Depot and Cherry Point Marine Corps Depot for evaluation and 
testing to facilitate the repair of rotary and fixed wing aircraft, and 
funds in FY 09 would be used to provide additional systems to the 
military depots and to provide training for personnel.
  $2.2 million for a Semiconductor Optical Amplifier for Responsive 
Space MPOI from the Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Air 
Force account. The recipient of these funds will be OptiComp Company, a 
small business located in Zephyr Cove, Nevada (located at PO Box 10779, 
Zephyr Cove, NV 89448). The company's focus is the fabrication and 
production, solely for the Department of Defense, of optoelectronic 
laser and detector modules for use on avionic and space datacom 
platforms. These modules are used in a fabric to permit fault tolerant 
wideband switching between computers, sensors, and telecommunications 
links on the platforms. OCC has a full semiconductor clean room and 
fabrication facility and an extensive test and measurement facility to 
evaluate all devices prior to acceptance.
  Within the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, I 
requested and the Committee approved a $3 million earmark for the Cyber 
Conflict Research Consortium's Distributed Environment for Critical 
Infrastructure Decision-making Exercises (DECIDE), a large, national 
university consortium that includes the University of Nevada, Reno 
(located at 1664 N. Virginia Street, Reno, Nevda 89557). The consortia 
aims to help protect the nation from cyberattacks. DECIDE directly 
addresses the conclusions of a 2006 report from the President's 
National Science and Technological Council which stated the need to 
target Federal research and development investment in cyber security 
and information assurance needs. The Cyber Conflict Research Consortium 
anticipates the DECIDE Financial Services Model will be completed in 
2009.
  Within the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations 
Act, I requested and the Committee approved an $11.375 million earmark 
for the Nevada National Guard for the Elko Readiness Center (located at 
1375 13th Street, Elko, NV 89801). Rapid growth in Nevada requires that 
a new Readiness Center facility in northeastern Nevada be constructed 
to meet the needs of the Nevada Army National Guard. The current Elko 
armory was built in 1961 and does not meet the security or operational 
requirements for the current mission. The state of Nevada is already 
providing funds to assist with design.

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