New York's Senator
CHARLES E. SCHUMER

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 23, 2000

SCHUMER ANNOUNCES $9.5 MILLION FOR RIT AND BAUSCH & LOMB

Rochester Area Playing A Crucial Role In Military Preparedness

US Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that the Senate Defense Appropriations Committee approved approximately $9.5 million in funding for Rochester-area defense projects. The committee approved $3 million for RIT's Center for Integrated Manufacturing(CIM) and approximately $6.5 million for high-tech laser eye protection equipment made by Bausch & Lomb.

The RIT money would be used to continue a collaboration with the Office of Naval Research's Modernization Through Remanufacturing and Conversion (MTRAC) project. The project, developed by CIM, finds ways for the Armed Forces to upgrade and rebuild current weapons systems and Navy vessels rather than replacing them fully, which saves the government money.

"RIT continues to prove that Upstate New York is an important partner in meeting our military's strategic needs," Schumer said. "The CIM project is a smart and cost-effective way to upgrade our military equipment. Recycling obsolete components of our weapons systems when possible gets the most mileage out of the tax dollars we invest in these projects."

Schumer said the Appropriations Committee also approved $6.5 million for the purchase of laser eye protection equipment produced by Bausch & Lomb in Rochester. The funding will allow the armed forces to immediately place the protective technology in the field, while providing for the continued development of more advanced protective measures. This technology was created by Pilkington Optronics of the United Kingdom and is produced in cooperation with Bausch & Lomb.

"Protecting our air crews from temporary or permanent blindness caused by exposure to laser systems is a priority and the Committee's recommendation recognizes the need to do so," Schumer said. "Like RIT, Bausch & Lomb is using its technological expertise to protect our troops in combat. I am going to continue my efforts to see that both the RIT and Bausch & Lomb projects are included in the final defense appropriation that passes Congress."

Last year, Schumer helped obtain $2 million for the RIT project and $2.4 million for the laser protection equipment. Schumer and Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan lobbied Committee members to recommend that the full Senate approve these projects.

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