Senate-approved defense bill may add arsenal jobs
More details aired on expansion to software work
Thursday, November 17, 2005
The Senate version of the Pentagon spending bill could lead to several hundred new jobs in Huntsville, U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Mobile, said Wednesday.
Included in the latest version of the $441.6 billion defense bill is $20 million for an expansion to the Army's Software Engineering Directorate on Redstone Arsenal. The Redstone engineers develop software for Army programs such as combat simulations, test hardware and missile systems.
There was no information on the exact number of jobs that would come to Huntsville after the expansion is completed.
The fiscal 2006 construction project will be completed in two phases, according to the office of U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Tuscaloosa.
Shelby said the software work would allow Army soldiers to be more versatile by enabling them to troubleshoot and operate any comparable weapon system with a minimum of training.
The Redstone money was not included in the original $419 billion White House request for the Pentagon budget in February, according to Session's office.
War and military construction costs, along with congressional projects, have caused the bill to grow by more than $20 billion.
The spending bill heads to a joint House and Senate conference committee for approval, and it probably will be approved in December, Sessions said.
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