“The Waco VA and Fort Hood are uniquely positioned to conduct world-class research with the Department of Defense to find improved treatments and cures for veterans suffering from mental illness and post traumatic stress disorder. The close proximity of a military installation that has sent over 40,000 soldiers to Iraq and a VA hospital that is a nationally recognized center of excellence for veterans’ mental health care cannot be matched anywhere else in the country,” said Edwards, chairman of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee.
Waco’s largest private employer, L-3 Communications, will receive $6.3 million requested by Edwards to fund a Technology Integration Lab at L-3 where new technologies for the EP-3E spy planes can be “pre-tested” before installation. These aircraft are heavily engaged collecting intelligence in theater and this will dramatically decrease the time they must be pulled away from their missions in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere to receive important systems upgrades.
