Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik voted to pass the FY25 Defense Appropriations Act which secures hundreds of millions of dollars to support Upstate New York and the North Country’s defense innovation efforts. Specifically, this legislation contains over $360 million for Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) - Rome to advance their quantum computing, and counter-UAS technology. Additionally, this bill secures investments into Fort Drum to build out the Department of Defense (DoD)’s counter-UAS capabilities and secures millions to strengthen Upstate New York’s defense companies and the partnerships of the North East Multi-Domain Operations Alliance.
“I am proud to continue delivering wins for our Upstate New York and North Country defense ecosystem which is leading the defense technology industry to rapidly innovate and deliver the technologies our warfighters need in the battles of tomorrow. The investments I secured through this year’s defense appropriations bill, including tens of millions for the Army’s C-UAS exercises at Fort Drum and for quantum innovation at AFRL-Rome will bolster our national security and further solidify Upstate New York’s role as a defense technology hub,” said Congresswoman Elise Stefanik. “Following the historic investments I secured in FY24 for AFRL-Rome, this bill will ensure continuation of that critical research and development, support our service members and their families, bring money back to the multiple NY-21 companies, and strengthen U.S.-Israel defense cooperation. I will always work to bring the priorities of Fort Drum, AFRL-Rome, and Upstate New York and the North Country to the highest levels of government.”
Specifically, the FY25 Defense Appropriations Act:
Secures Defense Wins for Upstate New York and the North Country
- $25 million increase for Air Force Research Lab - Rome’s annual Future Flag testing and evaluation exercise, conducted in Essex County in Lewis, N.Y.
- $45 million increase for Agility Prime to help support BETA Technologies’ work in Plattsburgh.
- $12 million increase for DoD procurement of blast exposure monitoring sensors like those made by NY-21 company, Med-Eng.
- $6 million increase for the Army to research composite rubber tracks, like those developed by Michelin in Plattsburgh, for use on their ground combat vehicles.
- $10 million increase to build out the North East Multi-Domain Operations Alliance (NEMDOA).
- $15 million increase to support Black River Systems work on Prosecution of Advanced Adversary Commercial Comms-Mobile (PAACC-M).
- $10.9 million increase to support Wolfspeed’s role in the advancement of a Silicon Carbide Flexible Bus Node.
- $5 million increase for the Army to research using thermoplastic made by Collins Aerospace in Rome, NY, for the UH-60 Black Hawk’s tail rotor drive shaft.
- $10 million increase to advance the Army’s Family of Counter UAS Systems (FoCUS) including Syracuse’s Hidden Level.
Strengthens Fort Drum and the 10th Mountain Division
- $20 million increase to support Fort Drum and 10th Mountain Division lead the DoD’s Counter-UAS efforts.
- Increases Army C-UAS funding for increased installation security.
- $10 million to support the 10th Mountain Division Engineer’s land surveying equipment designed to perform reconnaissance, obstacle reporting, and construction management.
Advances Emerging Technologies in Rome, New York
- $5 million increase to support AIS’s REVELATIONs AI/ML testbed.
- $15 million increase for trapped Ion Quantum Information Science Computer.
- $4 million increase to support quantum networking with ion trap units.
- $10 million increase to support quantum computer UAS tracking.
- $7.5 million increase to advance neutral-atom quantum networking.
- $10 million increase to advance quantum C4I dominance.
- $4 million to support adaptive blue force tracking.
- $5 million to support quantum entanglement on drones.
- $10 million for expeditionary UAS additive manufacturing capabilities.
Enhances U.S.-Israel Defense Cooperation
- Providing $500 million for the Israeli Cooperative Missile Defense Programs, to include Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and Arrow missile defense systems.
- Providing $80 million above the President’s Budget Request for U.S.-Israeli anti-tunneling cooperation.
- Providing $55 million above the President’s Budget Request for counter-UAS development and directed energy and laser technology cooperation.
- Prohibiting funds to withhold the delivery of defense articles and defense services from the United States to Israel, requiring that any defense article withheld from delivery to Israel be delivered within 15 days, and requiring the Secretary of Defense to obligate any remaining unobligated balances for assistance for Israel within 30 days.
- Prohibiting funds for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).
Supports our Service Members
- Providing a 19.5% pay raise for junior enlisted service members.
- Secures a 4.5% pay raise for all military personnel.
