Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates Asks Congress for $1.2 Billion for Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates wants 3,500 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles to Iraq by the end of the year and he has asked Congress to transfer cost to $1.2 billion to the program to enable him to do it.

The program has already received close to $4billion that has been programed for this year. The secretary stated that the extra funds will be speed up the timetable for getting these vehicles, which are considered the best armored vehicles available, out to the troops.

The additional money will enable the department to sign contracts for and additions 2,650 vehicles, bringing the total number to 6,415.

The Secretary had a meeting with the Committees of both houses that are responsible for the funding, the House and Senate Armed Services and Appropriation committees where he emphasized how important it was to get the vehicles to the war zone as soon as possible because the longer it takes, the lives will be lost. The Secretary feels certain that Congress will agree with him on the importance of this issue.

This is one issue that Congress has been in agreement on and shown support for, putting politics aside and the safety of the troops first.

Four companies currently produce MRAPs, and another may join the effort soon if its prototype model measures up, And the more the better. They are not being manufactured fast enough by a long shot. These companies are quickly increasing their production rates to keep up with demand. And right now the demand is exceeding production. It is not like this is an everyday item.

If approved, the fund transfer to the MRAP program will make it the Defense Department's third-largest acquisition program, he noted. Only the missile defense and Joint Strike Fighter programs will be bigger.