[Congressional Bills 110th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H. Con. Res. 113 Introduced in House (IH)] 110th CONGRESS 1st Session H. CON. RES. 113 Recognizing the important contributions and tremendous potential of military ground robotics and expressing the support of the Congress for continued funding and development of Unmanned Ground Vehicles. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 17, 2007 Mr. Carney (for himself, Mr. Jones of North Carolina, Mr. Holden, Mr. Reyes, Mr. Melancon, Mr. Meehan, and Mr. Doyle) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services _______________________________________________________________________ CONCURRENT RESOLUTION Recognizing the important contributions and tremendous potential of military ground robotics and expressing the support of the Congress for continued funding and development of Unmanned Ground Vehicles. Whereas Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs) are already playing a critical role in ongoing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan by providing much-needed stand-off from threats to United States Armed Forces, other coalition forces, and noncombatants, including threats posed by Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs); Whereas more than 4,000 UGVs are currently deployed in support of the Global War on Terror; Whereas more than 30,000 robotic combat counter IED missions have already been performed, resulting in more than 11,100 neutralized IEDs; Whereas UGVs are routinely destroyed or damaged while engaging IEDs, clearly demonstrating the dangers that would otherwise be faced by Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) personnel; Whereas IEDs have been responsible for many of the more than 2,000 combat deaths in Iraq and for more than 178 combat deaths in Afghanistan; Whereas increasing the number and type of personnel equipped with UGVs will save even more lives; Whereas more than 100 UGVs equipped with explosives detection capabilities have been ordered as a means to detect Vehicle Borne IEDs (VBIEDs) and explosives caches; Whereas the quantity of these UGVs that have been ordered does not meet the current need; Whereas UGVs with many promising capabilities, such as sniper detection robots, UGVs that weigh less than 50 pounds and provide infantry forces with robots suitable for operations in urban terrain (MOUT), UGVs with next- generation EOD capabilities, and casualty extraction robots, are available or in development; and Whereas investment in military robotics will also yield great dividends for homeland security applications, State and local EOD, SWAT, police, and first responders: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That the Congress-- (1) recognizes the significant and lifesaving contributions of Unmanned Ground Vehicles to current combat operations, and (2) notes the need for increased funding for development and deployment of UGVs. <all>