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WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Senate Armed Services Committee approved funding for significant defense projects in Arkansas as part of the Fiscal Year 2008 Defense Authorization Bill, U.S. Sens. Mark Pryor and Blanche Lincoln announced Wednesday.

One Arkansas project that was included in the bill is ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY's Standoff Improvised Explosive Detection Program.

The committee authorized $5 million for the SIEDP to improve the detection of improvised explosive devices.

Funding for the program will allow researchers at ASU to explore and develop new capabilities in areas of IED standoff detection and forensic tracing.

Dr. Susan Allen, distinguished professor of laser applications and science and senior adviser to the chancellor at ASU-Jonesboro, said officials at Arkansas State are pleased and excited to have the project in the authorization bill.

"Some initial results are promising, and we're looking forward to getting it funded," she said.

The program is a redirection of a project funded three years ago, a collaboration with the University of Hawaii and Florida A&M.

While radionuclide detection has been the project hub at A-State, the focus has been redirected "because of the importance of detecting explosives," Allen said. Yet, ASU researchers were looking at the same technology for both radionuclide detection and IED detection prior to Army sponsors asking them to do so.

"One and a half years ago they asked us to start moving to look at explosives instead of radionuclides, because of major threats, mostly in Iraq," Allen said. "They would like to detect at a distance. Most now call for proximity testing. While laser-detection scheme is high risk, it's high payoff."

So, there is a possibility of standoff detection, but the distance depends on a number of factors, Allen said.

"As a member of the Armed Services Committee," said Sen. Pryor in a press release, "I take my responsibility to craft this legislation very seriously. Arkansas' military installations, universities and businesses play a leading role in building our nation's defense and are therefore highlighted in this bill."

In committee, Pryor also helped advance a 3.5 percent pay raise for uniformed personnel, an additional $4 billion for mine resistant vehicles to protect the troops and major management reforms, such as tightening the requirements for the billions of dollars DoD spends on contract services, according to the release.

"As we strive to make our country more secure, it is important that we fund efforts in Arkansas that contribute to a strong national defense," added Lincoln. "I am proud to have worked with Sen. Pryor to ensure that this bill includes critical funding that will strengthen Arkansas' military efforts, and I will continue to fight for this funding throughout the appropriations process."

The senators added that the Defense Authorization Bill is the first step in the appropriations process. Next, the projects must be approved in either the FY 2008 Military Construction Appropriations Act or the FY 2008 Department of Defense Appropriations Act.

Sun staff writer Sherry F. Pruitt contributed to this report.