[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 118 (Friday, July 31, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2148]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          EARMARK DECLARATION

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. BRIAN P. BILBRAY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 31, 2009

  Mr. BILBRAY. Madam Speaker, I submit the following.
  Requesting Member: Congressman Brian Bilbray
  Bill Number: H.R. 3326--Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 
2010
  Account: OPAF, Line 12
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: California National Guard
  Address of Requesting Entity: 9800 Goethe Road, Box 42, Sacramento, 
CA 95826
  Description of Request: I received $6,000,000 to upgrade the Eagle 
Vision III system which is operated by the 147th Combat Communications 
Squadron, in San Diego, California. Eagle Vision is a mobile commercial 
satellite imagery collection and processing system which has proven 
itself as a resource in the war on terror and a homeland defense asset. 
The Eagle Vision III system has supported missions with AFNORTH, 
NORTHCOM, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. 
Geological Survey Agency (USGS) during natural disasters, CALFIRE/
CaIEMA, and the Army Strategic Command (ARSTRAT). In fact, it directly 
and indirectly supported 2009 Midwest flooding, and Hurricanes Fay, 
Gustav, and Ike and has participated in numerous military exercises. By 
providing the One-meter Electro-optical CARTOSAT 2 and the 2.5 meter 
CARTOSAT 1 and One-meter SAR system (RADARSAT II) upgrades, Eagle 
Vision III will have the same capabilities as newer versions of the 
system. The upgrades will provide the direct downlink of two separate 
imaging satellites allowing operators access to satellites with 
different orbitologies, and more frequent access to imagery during each 
day. Also, with a one-meter capability, imagery analysts will be able 
to identify specific information regarding roads, bridges, dams and 
other critical infrastructure which is very important to ``first 
responders'' during disaster situations.

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