Cole Secures $53 Million for Oklahoma Military Operations

WASHINGTON, D.C.-U.S. Congressman Tom Cole (OK-4) today voted in favor of the FY 08 Defense Appropriations bill that includes over $53 million for Oklahoma's Military Operations.

"These funds are not only beneficial to the overall effectiveness and capabilities of our military, but also greatly benefit our bases and military support facilities here in Oklahoma," Congressman Cole said. "I will be working closely with my colleagues to ensure these funds remain in the final passage of the bill."

Cole was successful in securing funds for the following areas in the FY 08 Defense Authorization Bill.

· $1.3 million for the Fire and Movement Range at Fort Sill.

· $5 million for the Call For Fire Trainer Iteration II/Joint Fires and Effects Trainer System (CFFT/JFETS) in Lawton and at Fort Sill.

· $7.2 million for the Joint Fires and Effects Training System at Fort Sill.

· $2 million for the Infrared Materials Center in Ardmore and at the University of Oklahoma.

· $2.5 million for the HIMARS Modular Launcher Communications System in Lawton and at Fort Sill.

· $9.5 million for UH-60 MEDEVAC Thermal Imaging Upgrades in Lexington.

· $5.3 million for the B-1B MSOGS Reliability Improvement Program at Tinker Air Force Base.

· $21.1 million for the Excalibur, XM982 155mm Extended Range Artillery Projectile.

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, H.R. 1585, authorizes $504 billion in budget authority for the Department of Defense (DoD) and the national security programs for the Department of Energy. Additionally, the bill authorizes $142 billion in supplemental funding to support current operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere in the Global War on Terrorism.

Additional highlights of the bill include:

· Additional funding for force protection needs in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, including $4.1 billion for state-of-the-art Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles.

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