Defense bill includes $93.5 million for Utah projects

WASHINGTON — Federal money for Utah's National Guard, the Dugway Proving Ground, Hill Air Force Base and other military programs in the state will be on its way once President Bush signs the final version of the defense spending bill passed by the House and Senate this week.

Defense projects in Utah would share at least $93.5 million through the bill, with money specifically set to help upgrade missile programs, improve the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and improve air-traffic control systems, to name just a small portion of what is in the bill.

The bill provides $471 billion for the Defense Department and fully funds a 3.5 percent pay increase for all service members, a half a percent above the president's request, according to a summary.

The measure includes $980 million for equipment for the National Guard and Reserve.

"The nearly $1 billion in funding for much-needed equipment for the Guard nationwide is a welcome development," said Maj. Hank McIntire, spokesman for the Utah National Guard.

"Combat units returning from deployment overseas often find themselves obliged to leave equipment in place to be used by their replacements," McIntire said. "This new appropriation will help our units to more effectively refit and retool here at home, provide the highest quality training for our soldiers and airmen, and be better prepared to protect our citizens as the governor and the president may require."

The Pentagon bill only funds core department operations, omitting Bush's $196 billion request for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, except for an almost $12 billion infusion for new troop vehicles that are resistant to roadside bombs.

Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, who sits on the Senate Appropriations Committee that initially writes the bill, put the following provisions into the legislation, according to his office:

• $13.5 million to upgrade intercontinental ballistic missiles, known as ICBMs, with real-time video devices, which allow forces to respond more quickly to threats.

• $10 million for equipment to help with technology in airplane frames, such as the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, and $9 million for KC-135 aircraft global air-traffic management systems that can help pilots choose better flight routes.

• $5 million for Utah State University's Space Dynamics Lab to develop reconnaissance systems and imagery processing technologies.