U.S. Senate appropriators on Thursday approved items that will bring in $1 billion to Maryland defense contractors and $13 million for community and transportation projects around the state.
In announcing the federal spending, Sen. Barbara Mikulski, a member of the Appropriations Committee, said, “These much-needed funds will help our troops fulfill their mission both at home and abroad.”
The bulk of the funds will go directly to makers of military hardware that are some of Maryland?s largest employers.
More than $390 million will go for the Air Force?s E-10a Multi-Sensor Command and Control Aircraft. Northrop Grumman Corp. and its Electronic Systems division based in Linthicum are principal contractors for this replacement of the wide-area surveillance systems (AWACs) originally produced here by Westinghouse.
Another $300 million will go for the Navy?s Littoral Combat Ship, a new family of surface ships designed to fight in coastal waters. Bethesda-based Lockheed Martin, the world?s largest defense corporation, is leading one group of contractors, and the other group developing the new ships includes Northrop Grumman and a number of other Maryland firms as subcontractors.
The spending for community projects includes $1 million for the East Baltimore Development Project just north of Johns Hopkins University hospital to provide services to low-income community residents.
Another $300,000 will go to the Patterson Park Community Development Corp. to continue the revitalization of Liberty Square.
In transportation funding, $4 million will be spent on improvements to the MARC rail commuter lines and $482,000 will be used to complete the light-rail double-track project in downtown Baltimore.
“These projects represent the best list of local, state and federal priorities,” Mikulski said.
