House OKs $33M more for programs at fort Increased funding for key Army intelligence programs approved The 2008 House Defense Appropriations bill passed July 27 by the Appropriations Committee contains $33.6 million in additional federal funding to support key intelligence programs and other activities at Fort Monmouth. According to Rep. Rush Holt (D-12) and Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-6), the funding is above the level requested by the Bush administration and planned by the U.S. Army. In a joint press release, Holt said, "Fort Monmouth is the center of gravity for high-tech research and development that directly helps the war fighter. As troops in the field continue to risk their lives for us, Congress needs to support the programs and activities that are helping them carry out their responsibilities safely and effectively." Pallone added: "Today, the House Appropriations Committee once again showed how important Fort Monmouth is to the global war on terror. The communications and intelligence work being conducted at the fort is providing our troops in the field the critical tools they need to do their jobs as safely as possible. I commend Congressman Holt for his hard work in securing these additional funds, and will work to ensure they remain in the bill as it progresses through Congress." They noted that the $33.6 million increase in federal funding will strengthen existing intelligence and communications programs at Fort Monmouth. Key increases include: • $20 million for both communications and noncommunications electronic counter-measures (ECM) programs that are designed to help distinguish friendly from enemy ECM emissions, and to improve the survivability of aviation platforms, ground combat vehicles and dismounted forces. • $6.6 million for the existing Army Guardrail Ground Baseline system and $3 million for its successor, the Defense Common Ground Station-Army, which will help the Army's field commanders better integrate intelligence information from multiple platforms in real time. • $3 million for critical information assurance programs, which are necessary to ensure that information on Army computer systems and networks remains reliable and resistant to enemy information warfare attacks. • $1 million for other key command, control and communications (C3) technology programs. The 2008 House Defense Appropriations bill was passed by the full Appropriations Committee, and is likely to be voted on by the House of Representatives within the coming week, the release said. "It will take the combined efforts of the entire New Jersey congressional delegation to ensure that this funding stream becomes law," Holt said. "I will be seeking the support of New Jersey House and Senate members on both sides of the aisle to help keep this increase in the DoD budget. This allows important additional work for critically important programs that will allow Fort Monmouth to serve the soldiers in the field even better."