SCHUMER ANNOUNCES OVER $2 BILLION IN FED FUNDS FOR LOCKHEED MARTIN OWEGO’S COMBAT RESCUE & MARINE ONE HELICOPTER PROGRAMS IS INCLUDED IN JUST-PASSED DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS BILL
Funding Keeps Helicopter Programs On Track & Sustains Southern Tier Jobs – Bill Includes $894 Million In Funding For Presidential Helicopters & $1.1 Billion In Funding For Combat Search & Rescue Helicopters, Both Are Partly Produced By Lockheed Martin in Owego
Schumer: Funding Is Critical for Lockheed Martin Owego, Who Are At The Forefront Of Two of The Most Important Helicopter Programs In Nation
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer today announced that the recently-passed, bipartisan Senate Fiscal Year 2019 Defense Appropriations bill, which is expected to pass the House in the coming weeks, includes $2 billion in federal funding for two Lockheed Martin Owego helicopter construction projects. Specifically, the FY19 Defense Appropriations bill includes $1.106 billion for the CRH Combat Rescue helicopter program, and $894.079 million for the VH-92 Presidential Helicopter Replacement program. Both of these helicopters are manufactured by teams at Lockheed Martin’s Owego plant.
“The Presidential Helicopter Replacement program and the CRH Combat Rescue helicopter are vital to our national defense, protection of our chief executive and cabinet, and are the crown jewels of the Southern Tier economy – that is why I am so proud that we fought for and delivered this massive federal investment to keep the world-class Lockheed Martin workforce doing what they do best: making the most-advanced and effective helicopters in the world,” said Senator Schumer. “I am proud I led the effort to secure this critical federal funding, and will always fight for investments that both keep good-paying jobs in the Southern Tier and keep our military service members and government officials safe.”
The CRH Combat Rescue helicopter is used by the military to extricate troops from dangerous situations and bring them home safely. The 106th Rescue Wing of the New York Air National Guard, located in Westhampton Beach, is a combat search and rescue unit, using combat rescue helicopters to complete their vital mission. $660.35 million in funding will be used for procurement, and the remaining $445.65 million will be used to research, develop, test and evaluate CRH Combat Rescue helicopters. The VH-92 Presidential Helicopter, or the Marine One helicopter, is used to transport the President. $649.015 million in funding will be used for procurement, and the remaining $245.064 will be used to research, develop, test and evaluate VH-92 Presidential helicopters.
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