Mortgage and Rental Assistance Reauthorization Act of 2008

Madam Speaker, I rise today to share with the House of Representatives two high priority projects included at my request in H.R. 5658, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009.

Requesting Member: Congressman Mike Rogers (MI-08).

Bill Number: H.R. 5685.

Account: Other Procurement--Navy, Line: Aviation Support Equipment-- Aviation Support Equipment Equipment--Aviation Life Support (P-1 Line 97).

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Peckham Industries.

Address of Requesting Entity: 2822 N. Martin Luther King Blvd., Lansing, MI 48906.

Description of Request: Provide $8,000,000 to fund procurement of approximately 8,000 sets of the Multi Climate Protection System (MCPS) for U.S. Navy Aircrews. Approximately $3.4 million will be spent on garment production, $4.2 million on materials, and $0.4 million on quality control/fielding. The total requirement for the U.S. Navy for MCPS is 25,000 systems. Between FY 2004 and FY 2007, the Navy and Congress have provided enough funding for fielding of only 25% of the required systems. In FY 2008, Congress allocated $2 million for the program. In FY 2007 the House and Senate Armed Services Committees addressed the need for MCPS in their authorization bills. The House authorization text reads, ``The committee strongly encourages the Department of the Navy to include the necessary funds for the MCPS in its future budget requests to meet MCPS requirements.''

Requesting Member: Congressman Mike Rogers (MI-08).

Bill Number: H.R. 5658.

Account: Operations and Maintenance, (BA 01: Operating Forces).

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Peckham Industries.

Address of Requesting Entity: 2822 N. Martin Luther King Blvd., Lansing, MI 48906

Description of Request: Provide $4,000,000 to fund procurement of approximately 35,000 sets of Cold Weather Layering System (CWLS) for the U.S. Marines. Approximately $2 million will be spent on garment production, $1.6 million on materials, $0.4 million on quality control/ fielding. In direct response to the U.S. Marine Corps' unique combat needs, a Polartec Power Dry Silkweight and Polartec Power Dry Grid with flame resistant properties for use in the CWLS is currently in development. Roadside bombs kill or wound more troops than any other weapon in Iraq, having killed more than 1,200 U.S. service members to date. The heat and flame produced by roadside bombs presents a significant burn threat, and the USMC has called for the use of flame resistant textiles to maintain safety in harsh combat conditions.