Skip to content

$17.42 million in federal funding for region will create jobs, benefit U.S. military

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Arlen Specter and Bob Casey announced today that Congress has approved federal funding for several defense-related projects in Central Pennsylvania.  This funding is contained in the Fiscal Year 2010 Defense Appropriations Act, a bill which provides funding for our men and women in uniform, and also extends unemployment and health insurance benefits for unemployed workers.

“These projects will make valuable contributions to our nation’s defense and economy,” said Senator Specter.  “Pennsylvania is a top competitor for defense projects that create jobs and strengthen our economy and these funds will go far in supporting the brave men and women who serve our country.”

“These projects will encourage job creation and bolster our nation’s security,” said Senator Casey.  “I am pleased the Congress has approved this important funding, which will promote economic growth in Pennsylvania, ensure that our servicemembers have state-of-the-art equipment and protection and strengthen our nation’s defense.”

The Senate voted to pass the bill Saturday morning 88-10; the President signed it into law the same day.

Funding has been approved for the following defense projects in Central PA:

*If a Member of Congress also supported a project, his/her name listed

•    $4.5 million for the Pennsylvania National Guard’s Northeast Counter Drug Training Center in Lebanon Country to provide training for DoD personnel, military units, local state and federal law enforcement agencies and community anti-drug coalitions. (Casey-Specter)

•    $4 million for the Pennsylvania Air National Guard’s 193rd Special Operations Wing in Dauphin County to improve the capabilities of its EC-130J aircraft. (Specter)

•    $2.52 million for Covanta Energy in Dauphin County to develop technology to convert municipal solid waste to renewable diesel fuel. (Specter)

•    $2.4 million for Impact Technologies in Centre County to develop a sensor to provide a detailed, real-time evaluation of engine oil health state as well as the identification and quantification of many of the primary internal combustion engine lubricant failure modes, eliminating the need to change oil based on inherently conservative mileage estimates and allowing for the safe extension of oil drain intervals. (Specter, Casey, Thompson)

•    $1.6 million for KCF Technologies in Centre County develop a self-powered prosthetic limb to aid combat-injured veterans. (Specter, Casey, Thompson)

•    $1.6 million for Sechan Electronics  in Lancaster County to develop an electronic data distribution system to give troops “plug and play” capability in combat vehicles to allow them to simultaneously use remote weapon, sensor and communication sub-systems within one distributed network.  (Specter, Casey)

•    $800,000 for InRange Systems, Inc. in Blair County to evaluate the clinical and economic efficiency of an FDA cleared remote medication management system that provides unit dose delivery of medications across the continuum of care. (Specter, Casey, Brady)

###