Jeff Bingaman United States Senator from New Mexico

U.S. SENATOR Jeff Bingaman

Friday, May 28, 2010

Contact Senator Bingaman's Office:

Jude McCartin
Maria Najera
703 Hart Building
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-5521

Bingaman Helps Write Defense Bill That Supports New Mexico Military Installations and Labs

 WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman is helping to write key defense legislation that strongly supports New Mexico’s military installations and Sandia and Los Alamos national laboratories.  At Bingaman’s urging, the bill also contains a provision requiring the Air Force to report to Congress on the magnitude of the fuel spill at Kirtland Air Force Base, and to develop plans to address its remediation and budget accordingly to ensure funds are there to begin clean up.

The bill, called the fiscal year 2011 Defense Authorization Bill, authorizes all defense funding – a step that must be taken before funds can be appropriated.  The measure was approved by the Senate Armed Services Committee late yesterday.  Bingaman serves on that panel. 

“New Mexico’s two national laboratories, three Air Force Bases, and our Army testing range provide invaluable services to our country.  Ensuring that they are adequately funded is one of my most important roles in Congress,” said Bingaman.  “This legislation provides strong support to these key institutions.”

For the National Nuclear Security Administration, which funds the national labs, the legislation authorizes $7 billion for stockpile stewardship, a 9.7% increase over last year; $2.7 billion for nonproliferation, a 26.4% increase over last year; and $5.6 billion for environmental cleanup, a 6.6% decrease. 

 Bingaman was also able to authorize $20 million for the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE) at Los Alamos National Laboratory.  The White House had planned to zero out the funds, but Bingaman fought for support of LANSCE because Department of Energy has stated its long-term commitment to using the facility.  In a just issued Congressionally-required report, NNSA laid out its plans for LANSCE use over the next decade and concluded it will budget at least $70 million annually for the next five years for operation and maintenance to support the stockpile and that it will spend an additional $15 million over the next five years for basic science research.

 “It is clear that LANSCE is a one-of-a-kind facility that we will continue to need for years to come, so I am glad this bill authorizes funds to upgrade it,” Bingaman said.

 For New Mexico’s Air Force Bases and White Sands Missile Range, the bill authorizes $253 million for the following initiatives:

Cannon Air Force Base:

• $14 million     for 96-room dormitory

·         $20 million for Squadron Ops Facility

·         $13.287 million to Add/Alter Simulator Facility for MC-130J

·         $26 million for C-130 Parking Apron Phase I

·         $12.636 million for Aircraft Parking Apron (MC-130J)

·         $24.622 million for Hanger/AMU (MC-130J)

·         $39.674 million for Operations and Training Complex

·         $4.05 million for family support center

 

Holloman Air Force Base:

·         $15.47 million to Add/Alter Maintenance Hanger

·         $22.5 million for Maintenance Hangar

• $4.5 million to continue     development of the magnetic levitation systems at the Holloman High Speed     Test Track

 

Kirtland Air Force Base:

• $3.8 million     for Aerial Delivery Facility Addition

·         $6.46 million for Armament Shop

·         $14.142 million for HC/MC-130 Fuel System Maintenance Facility

·         $4.4 million for a military working dog facility

• $2 million to help develop     specialized equipment at the space physics lab being built at Kirtland
• An increase of $20 million     to the FY 2011 budget of $94 million to make $114 million to the     Operational Responsive Space Office at Kirtland to develop small     satellites as well as a report from the Secretary of the Air Force on how     to stream line their acquisition efforts.
• Includes an amendment that     gives authority to the Secretary of Defense to have local bases such as     Kirtland manage locally their programs for science and math education with     New Mexico Schools and use institutions such as New Mexico Tech to assist     in carrying out these activities.

 

White Sands Missile Range:

·         $29 million for barracks

·         $22.9 million for TRICARE Health and Dental Clinics

• $1.2 million to develop     software and equipment to help coordinate air space at WSMR, Holloman and     Fort Bliss to make it a joint training range
• $5 million for High Energy     Laser Test Facility at WSMR to make it a center of excellence for high     powered solid state lasers
• $5 million to develop     demonstrate enhanced energy technologies at WSMR

 

National Guard

·         $8.5 million for Readiness Center in Farmington

• $6 million for New Mexico     National Guard Drug to interdict drugs along the border

 

Army Reserves:

·         $11.4 million for Army Reserve Center/Land in Las Cruces

 The bill also authorizes funding for other projects and initiatives, including those at the following New Mexico institutions:

• $2 million algae to fuels     research at New Mexico State,
• $1 million to continue a     Geospatial education program at NMSU to help develop accurate military     maps and information
• $2 million for advanced     armor materials research at New Mexico Tech,
• $3 million advanced     explosives R&D, Applied Research Associates, Albuquerque
• $2 million for the DOD     Joint Technology Office for High Energy Lasers to conduct research in     other forms of directed energy such as high powered microwaves.  The     office is located at UNM’s Technology Park in Albuquerque.

 As chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Bingaman worked with Senator Carl Levin to help ensure the military plays a constructive and active role in the siting of renewable energy projects.  The provision they wrote creates a senior position at the Department of Defense to coordinate with renewable energy and transmission grid development efforts on public and private lands while ensuring adequate public outreach with the public in develop any strategies and policies.

 Another Bingaman amendment extends Los Alamos Land Transfer authority until 2022; it was set to expire this year.  This authority enables Los Alamos County to take title of Los Alamos National Laboratory land for a tax base as the laboratory shrinks its footprint.

 Finally, the bill contains a provision Bingaman supported that ends the military’s policy of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. 

 The Defense Authorization Bill is now ready for full Senate debate.