Senator Charles E. Schumer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 21, 2004

Schumer, Clinton: Congressional Panel Backs $10.6 Million In Defense Funds For Rochester/Finger Lakes

Federal funds would provide money for Rochester Institute of Technology to improve defense systems

General Motors in Monroe County would receive funds to develop new automotive technology based on hydrogen fuel cells for non-tactical vehicles at U.S. military bases

US Senators Charles E. Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton announced today that the joint House and Senate Conference Committee approved $10.6 million in the 2005 Defense Department spending bill for the Rochester/Finger Lakes Region. The bill must now be approved by the Congress before being sent to the President and eventually signed into law. The $10.6 million in Rochester area projects is in addition to $2.5 million to support the work of Rochester’s National Center for Excellence in Infotonics, also announced by the Senators Wednesday.

"With so many of our sons and daughters serving in uniform today, this funding is good news both at home in the Rochester/Finger Lakes area and abroad," Senator Schumer said. "This money will help give our troops the most technologically advanced equipment possible. From fuel efficient transportation to cutting edge evaluation of our defense systems, these projects made in the Rochester/Finger Lakes area will allow our armed forces to be as effective as they can possibly be. I look forward to voting in favor of these funds and will continue to urge my colleagues to do the same."

“As a Senator, and especially since joining the Senate Armed Services Committee, I have been very impressed by the research, technologies and skills that the Greater Rochester region has to offer to our national defense. These organizations are leading the field in defense technology and fuel cell development - right here in the Rochester area. Funding for these projects means that we are supporting the areas's cutting-edge knowledge and expertise, that in turn will support our men and women in uniform,” Senator Clinton said.

The Rochester Institute of Technology's Modernization and Sustainment Initiative would receive $4 million in federal funds to improve defense systems by developing processes and tools to track the status and future health of defense systems. The Initiative can lead to significant cost savings and performance enhancements on a wide variety of military platforms, and have had tremendous impacts when implemented on naval systems.

General Motors' Next Generation Tactical Vehicle Propulsion program would receive $2.6 million in federal funds to develop automotive technology based on hydrogen fuel cells to improve non-tactical vehicles at U.S. Military bases.

Beginning in FY05, a 16-month evaluation under the management of the U.S. Army, National Automotive Center of a General Motors light truck hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicle at Fort Belvoir, VA is proposed as part of the base’s non-tactical administrative vehicle fleet. The General Motors light truck evaluated in this demonstration will utilize fuel cells designed and built in Honeoye Falls, NY.

The MASINT Warfighter Visualization Tools would receive $2.5 million and the Rapid Diagnosis of Dermatological Diseases would receive $1.5 million in federal funds.

The $10.6 million in Rochester area projects is in addition to $2.5 million for Rochester’s National Center for Excellence in Infotonics, also announced by the Senators Wednesday.

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