Defense appropriations R&D bill would benefit big Idaho area employers

Idaho State University, AMI Semiconductor Inc. and the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory could receive millions in federal funding if the U.S. Senate’s Defense Appropriations Bill for the 2005 fiscal year clears the floor as written.

By Holden Parrish – Assistant City Editor

http://www.journalnet.com/articles/2004/06/25/news/local/news13.txt

The bill, which passed the Senate Appropriations Committee Tuesday, earmarks $7.5 million for INEEL, $5 million for AMIS and nearly $4 million for ISU.

The bill must pass the Senate first.

"Idaho should be proud of its role in our nation’s defense," Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, who sits on the Senate Appropriations Committee, said in a news release. "These projects underscore the amount of research, development and training Idaho provides and will continue to provide."

If passed in its current form, the bill would provide $5 million – $1 million more than what the House proposes – for an AMIS project that would enable the company to improve production methods for custom integrated circuits – also known as chips – used in defense systems.

"That pretty much assures us of no lower than $4 million and no higher than $5 million," said Arlen Wittrock, AMIS’ director of public affairs and communication. "If it’s in one bill and not in the other, then you’re still in jeopardy."

Wittrock said Monday the appropriation could lead to 38 added jobs at the company’s Pocatello location. It would also help support hundreds of other positions, he said, noting those roles might not be limited to the federal project.

The bill also sets aside $2 million for an ongoing project at ISU’s Idaho Accelerator Center.

The project, known as the High-Intensity Pulsed Radiation Facility for Chem and BioAgent Defeat, studies the effect of intense radiation on chemical and biological systems and weapons in hopes of destroying them with a minimal amount of side damage.

This would be the project’s third funding cycle.

Dr. Frank Harmon, the Idaho Accelerator Center’s director, said the appropriation was far from certain because similar funding was not present in the House’s defense budget bill.

"I’m a little bit more concerned this year," he said, noting the project received about $1 million its first year and about $1.4 million more last year.

Another ISU center that stands to gain from the Senate’s bill is the National Information Assurance and Training Center. If approved, the bill would award $1.6 million to the center.

A pair of INEEL programs would also benefit from the Senate’s current defense bill.

The site’s Unmanned Systems Research Park, which researches and develops unmanned vehicles for military and security purposes, could receive as much as $4.5 million.

About $3 million is budgeted for INEEL’s Research of Frequency Selective Surfaces and Thermal Signatures project, which develops and improves technology and techniques for reducing friendly fire and the enemy’s ability to monitor and observe friendly troops.

Holden Parrish is the Journal’s assistant city editor and covers politics and general assignment stories. He can be reached at (208) 239-6001 or by e-mail at [email protected].