On May 3, 2024, Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) submitted a letter to the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee leadership along with 25 other Senate members requesting increased funding for the Army’s Humanitarian Demining Research and Development (HD R&D) program. This is the third year such a letter has been submitted in the Senate chamber, and breaks last year's 22-signature record.
The letter calls for an allocation of $25 million of the fiscal year 2025 budget to the HD R&D program, which develops new and innovative technology that makes demining safer for military and humanitarian demining operations. HALO, an HD R&D partner, both supports the program through field evaluations and uses HD R&D technology in our work around the world. This funding would allow HALO and other demining organizations to respond to new and emerging challenges and adapt cutting-edge technology for demining use.
HALO thanks Senator Baldwin and the other 25 Senators who have made humanitarian demining a priority. These technological advancements keep our deminers safe while allowing us to eliminate explosive threats faster and more effectively protect communities.
The Senators who signed include: Sen. Tammy Baldwin, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Sen. Sherrod Brown, Sen. Laphonza Butler, Sen. Bob Casey, Sen. Chris Coons, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, Sen. Dick Durbin, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Sen. Martin Heinrich, Sen. Mark Kelly, Sen. Angus King, Sen. Ed Markey, Sen. Jeff Merkley, Sen. Alex Padilla, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sen. Brian Schatz, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, Sen. Tina Smith, Sen. Chris Van Hollen, Sen. Raphael Warnock, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Sen. Peter Welch, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, Sen. Ron Wyden
Read the letter and see signatures here.
