A defense appropriations bill that passed through the U.S. Senate would, if signed into law, provide millions in funding for a local company.
Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., announced this week that the 2010 Department of Defense Appropriations bill includes $3.2 million for Eagle Picher Technologies, LLC in Pittsburg. The money would go toward the company’s Advanced Hybrid Chemistry for Portable Power project. According to a news release, the project would develop advanced hybrid chemistry that would provide the U.S. Army with the increased battery performance needed in combat. Eagle Picher representatives could not be reached for further comment by press time.
Eagle Picher Corporation, according to the company’s Web site, manages a “portfolio of advanced technology companies with a diverse range of products, often custom-developed, always precision-designed for unique and sometimes history-changing applications.” For example, the Web site states, Eagle Picher Technologies, LLC supplied the batteries that brought the disabled Apollo spacecraft home.
The appropriations bill includes funding for more than $40.8 million in projects, according to a release from Roberts’ office.
“Kansas continues to play a critical role in the nation’s defense,” Roberts said in a statement. “These investments will advance the research and manufacturing of cutting edge technologies for our men and women in uniform.”
The bill is now in conference committee to resolve differences in the House and Senate versions of the bill. The conference report must then by approved by both chambers before heading to President Obama’s desk to be signed.
Mark Turnbull, Pittsburg’s director of economic development, said he’s hopeful that the final bill will sustain the allotment for Eagle Picher, which he said is “good for Pittsburg and good for the company.”
“We’re encouraged that the company is looking to expand the product produced in Pittsburg,” Turnbull said. “We appreciate the senator working on our behalf in Washington to secure the appropriations.”
According to Roberts’ office, the bill also includes these Kansas projects:
• $4 million for Hawker Beechcraft: AT-6B Capabilities Demonstration for the Air National Guard.
• $6 million for The Boeing Company: B-52 Tactical Data Link Capability.
• $2 million for the University of Kansas : Academic Support and Research Compliance for Knowledge Gathering. This program will continue a partnership begun last year between KU and the Combined Arms Center at Fort Leavenworth through which KU offers the Army a new MA program for Special Forces Officers.
• $6 million for Kansas State University: Armed Forces Health and Food Supply Research. This project allows KSU to conduct threat and vulnerability analysis of foreign disease agents and food processing and handling systems. Research allows the intelligence community to develop threat countermeasures, intelligence support, and analysis capabilities in support of U.S. forces deployed throughout the world.
• $2 million For KSU: Biosecurity Research for Soldier Food Safety. This project would allow scientists to develop methods and equipment to determine biohazards in soldiers’ food supply.
• $3 million for Kaman Aerospace Corporation-Plastic Fabricating Division in Wichita: Composite Small Main Rotor Blades.
• $2 million for NanoScale Corporation Manhattan: Contaminated Human Remains Pouch. The transport of contaminated human remains is important in both combat and humanitarian military actions. However, the current technology has remained largely unchanged for decades. Handlers of contaminated and potentially contaminated human remains face significant biological and chemical threats.
• $3 million for KSU and M2 Technologies: Expeditionary Capabilities Laboratory, Marine Corps PEO Land Systems. This program produces practical tools to address urgent needs in Iraq and Afghanistan and furthers defense modernization efforts.
• $2 million for Iron Tree Research in Lansing: Long Range Hypersonic Interceptor. This project will continue development of the Long-Range Hypersonic Interceptor, providing the U.S. military the capability to rapidly intercept ballistic missiles at great distance.
• $3 million for Wichita State University and Miltec Research and Technology: Materials Integrity Management Research for the Air Force.
• $2 million for KSU: Professional Development Education, Army Command and General Staff College Leadership Training. This program was developed jointly between the CGSC at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and KSU to provide Masters and Doctorate degrees in Security Studies for students and faculty at the CGSC.
• $2 million for Atchison Steel Castings & Machining: Superior Weapons Systems through Castings. This program will provide rapid, cost-effective solutions in the procurement of high-quality critical castings used in legacy systems in ongoing operations worldwide.
PITTSBURG —
