Local Companies to Benefit from Proposed Defense Appropriations Bill
WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 – Five Merrimack Valley companies would be in line for tens of millions of dollars in federal money if Congress passes this year’s defense spending bill, which was approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee Wednesday.
Andover-based Raytheon Corp. would get $10 million for its advanced radar technology, and Malden Mills in Lawrence would receive $14 million for military textile projects as part of the defense department’s funding for military technology research.
“Raytheon is very pleased with Sen. Kennedy’s efforts,” said Raytheon spokesman Thomas Saunders of the Massachusetts senator who lobbied for state companies to be included in the legislation.
General Electric would get $40 million for airplane engine upgrades and parts; Ahura Corp. would pull down $4 million for its handheld chemical and biological agent detectors; and Textron Inc. would receive $9 million for its munitions technology. All three companies have operations in Wilmington.
“Merrimack Valley continues to be a major contributor to military invention, technology and growth,” Kennedy said in a statement to the Eagle-Tribune. “I’m proud that so many of our defense companies call the Merrimack Valley home.”
The bill authorizes a $440.2 billion budget in 2006 for the Department of Defense. Massachusetts companies and colleges would receive $145 million if the bill is passed in its current form.
These funds are in addition to the $35 million for the National Guard and Reserve bases in the state provided in a separate military construction bill, which includes a $17 million allocation for a maintenance shop at Camp Curtis Guild in Reading, $2.5 million for an Army Readiness Center at Camp Edwards on Cape Cod, and $7.1 million for a weapons maintenance and training facility at Barnes National Guard Base in Westfield.
After the defense spending bill is debated on the Senate floor, which could take anywhere from a day to two weeks, it will be voted on and is expected to pass, a spokesperson for the Senate Appropriations Committee said.
Then House and Senate negotiators will meet to iron out any differences between the two chambers’ versions of the bill. After each passes the new version, it would go to the president for signing.
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