|
|
| |
| Wed, Nov. 19, 2008 |  |
 |
|
||
| |
Congress to fund UA research Friday, Sep 26, 2008 By Aaron Sadler Stephens Washington Bureau WASHINGTON - Congress is expected to approve by the end of the week a spending bill that includes money for research into biological weapons detection systems at the University of Arkansas. The appropriations bill that passed the House on Wednesday and awaits action in the Senate contains $2.5 million for UA's center for nanoscale bio-sensors. According to the university, the money would be for research into creation of small devices that can detect and alert people to biological weapons. The earmark by Sens. Mark Pryor and Blanche Lincoln, both D-Ark., and Rep. John Boozman, R-Rogers, funds UA's focused research on nanotechnology, a science field that studies and builds materials at a microscopic level. The project funding is among nearly $50 million in earmarks obtained for Arkansas projects by the state's congressional delegation. The earmarks are detailed in a database compiled by Taxpayers for Common Sense, which tracks federal spending. Arkansas officials said nanoscale bio-sensors would be small enough for soldiers to wear on helmets or sleeves and would alert forces of biological agents in the air. That would be a vast improvement over the current defense against chemical weapons, according to the school. "Today, one must envision the soldier in a chemical suit, boots, protective mask and gloves, while perhaps located in a scorching desert, in order to be protected from such weaponry," the university said in its request for federal funding. An additional $800,000 would fund a branch of the bio-sensors center at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. In addition, the senators requested $800,000 for Fayetteville company NanoMech to develop lubricants used on naval vessels. The lubricants made of microscopic materials would be more durable and weigh less than the kind currently used by the military, officials said. The money is in the fiscal year 2009 Defense appropriations bill. Congress is set this week to pass that and two other spending measures, for Homeland Security and for Veterans Affairs departments, and for military construction. Eight other spending bills will likely be taken up when a new Congress convenes in 2009. In the meantime programs in those bills would be continued at current funding levels through a stopgap spending bill. Other Arkansas earmarks in the bills likely to pass this week include: -$750,000 for Sebastian County to construct an emergency operations center, which would serve as a headquarters for responding agencies during an emergency. -$3.2 million for a proposed prototype of a mobile battlefield hospital. If the Army chooses the prototype to replace the outdated medical shelter tents, the mobile hospitals would be manufactured in Russellville. -$4 million for a new engine shop at Little Rock Air Force Base. -More than $10 million to continue grenade and mortar production at the Pine Bluff Arsenal and at private defense contractor facilities in Camden. -$207,000 for an infantry training course at Fort Chaffee. |
