Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. and others letter to Jerry Lewis, August 10, 2001

CURT WELDON COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES Washington. DC 20515-3807 MILITARY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT SPECIAL OVERSIGHT PANEL ON MERCHANT MARINE SPECIAL OVERSIGHT PANEL ON TERRORISM COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE 1610) 259-0700 MIGRATORY BIRD CONSERVATION COMMISSION REPUBLICAN POLICY COMMITTEE Congress of tfje ®ntteb States Souse of JUpetSentattoeS raasrtriJljton, SC 20515-3807 August 10, 2001 CO-CHAIRMAN: CONGRESSIONAL FIRE SERVICES CAUCUS CONGRESSIONAL DIABETES CAUCUS The Honorable Jerry Lewis Chairman Subcommittee on Defense Committee on Appropriations H149 Capitol Washington, D.C. 20515-0001 Dear Jerry: As you prepare to mark-up the FY2002 Defense Appropriations bill, we write to respectfully request your support for a research and development program critical to national security, which was originally submitted by Representative Weldon. Specifically, we are requesting a $20 million add to the Office of Naval Research , Biological Agent Sensor Research and Development program (PE# 0602114N) to develop small portable biological sensors through nanotechnology . As you know, the Office of Naval Research (ONR) is involved with critical biotechnology research and development to support Navy war fighters . The development of Biological Diagnosis Aid for the war fighter in an expeditionary force is a high priority for ONR. Unfortunately, funding cuts and changes in funding priorities have impeded the advancement of this technology. With a $20 million add, the Navy will be able to strengthen warfighters performance and address the Fleet Commanders' Capability Issues (CCIs) . The unfunded CCI is for small, portable biological sensors that provide individual war-fighters the ability to sense low, sublethal concentrations of biological agents at long ranges and continue performance in combat . In addition to meeting a critical defense need, this additional funding will also support an important economic development initiative to foster nanotechnology research, development and commercialization in southeastern Pennsylvania. Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania (BFTP/SEP) , a public/private economic development entity chartered by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is leading this initiative with their effort to establish the Nanotechnology Institute, a collaborative partnership involving several academic institutions in the mid-Atlantic region. Due to an established partnership between the Nanotechnology Institute and the Office of Naval Research, those academic institutions participating in THIS STATIONERY PRINTEO ON PAPER I I OF RECYCLED FIBERS