The House of Representatives has passed a $368 billion Fiscal Year 2004 Defense Appropriations bill (HR 2658) that specifically directs $4 million to further support a critical aircraft carrier technology project being developed at Navy Lakehurst, Congressmen Chris Smith (R-Hamilton) and Jim Saxton (R-Mt. Holly) announced today.  The bill passed the House 356-67.

    “This latest installment of $4 million follows $3.75 million already invested by the federal government into this project, which will redevelop and enhance the systems used to launch and recover aircraft from carriers,” Smith said.

    "This federal money will help advance the research and development phase of the Aviation-Shipboard Information Technology Initiative (AS/ITI) program, which is critically important to Navy Lakehurst and the Navy as a whole,” Smith added.

    The money for AS/ITI is in addition to nearly $23 million for two construction projects that was included in the Fiscal Year 2004 Military Construction Appropriations bill (HR 2559), which passed the House earlier this year. Conference committee negotiations on HR 2559 are still underway.  If that funding is retained, Navy Lakehurst will receive close to $27 million in federal aid this year alone.

    “The $4 million for this project is critical because when this research and development program is completed and deployed aboard our carrier fleet, it could create a whole new line of business for Navy Lakehurst, keeping our base strong for decades to come,” Smith said.

    “This is a banner year for federal dollars coming into Lakehurst,” said Saxton, a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee who represented Lakehurst from 1984-1992 prior to redistricting. “The base is set to receive more than $25 million in 2004. Lakehurst has a key role in long-term national security. Aircraft carriers are the heart of the Navy’s ability to extend U.S. military power overseas, and the unique work done only at Lakehurst improves and protects that critical role.”

    The AS/ITI technology will enhance our nation’s fleet of carriers, enabling them to launch and recover aircraft safer, faster, and more effectively.  This will boost sortie rates and firepower without adding more aircraft.  Once fully implemented, the technology will help save about $2 million a year per carrier, and about $25 million a year Navy-wide.