The following is a guest post from Congressman K. Michael Conaway of the 11th District of Texas. Thank you, Congressman, for your tireless effort to keep us in the fight!

I am happy to announce that by the end of the year at least 3,500 of the new Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles will be in the hands of our troops fighting overseas in the War on Terror.

Pentagon officials announced on Wednesday, July 18, 2007, that the MRAP program is the fastest-moving major program in the Defense Department. Also, Defense Secretary Robert Gates has made clear that the MRAP program, along with the safety of our deployed forces, is the Department of Defense’s top priority.

Currently, the Pentagon has 6,415 MRAPs on order with many more expected to come in the near future. The chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Ike Skelton (D-MO), has made it clear that it is imperative to get these vehicles delivered to the field as quickly as possible. Rest assured that I fully support the Pentagon and the chairman’s efforts in getting the best and safest equipment to the troops as quickly as possible.

May God richly bless our veterans, servicemen and women, their families and the United States of America.

Sincerely,
K. Michael Conaway
Member of Congress