Carter Supports Increased Defense Funding, Pay Raise for Troops

Bill will continue to rebuild our military, help address growing global threats, and provide care for our troops

Today, the House Appropriations Committee approved the fiscal year (FY) 2018 Defense Appropriations bill by voice vote, providing support for many programs important to Fort Hood and Central Texas. The legislation funds the Department of Defense including operations, readiness activities, and health and quality-of-life programs for our troops and military families.  The legislation provides a total of $658.1 billion for Defense, an increase of $68.1 billion above FY17 levels, and $18.4 billion above the President’s Defense budget request.

“Today I proudly supported legislation that will move us a step closer to providing the resources our nation needs to ensure our national security,” said Rep. Carter. “The past Administration launched an all-out assault on our military, leaving us with depleted troop strength and out of date resources and equipment. While this funding package won’t relieve all the damage from the last eight years, I expect to continue increasing our support for defense resources and programs to alleviate the disastrous effects sequestration has had on our warriors. This funding bill will provide for the men and women of our military and their families, and deliver the tools they need to be successful in their missions. In all, this bill provides increases in funding where our priorities should be focused, keeping America safe and secure.”

“I have long been an ardent supporter of our military and their families, and this bill includes numerous priorities I specifically requested on behalf of Fort Hood. Among these are funding for an increase in troops, accelerated ground combat vehicle modernizations, remanufactured and new Apache helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles. This legislation also provides for a 2.4 percent pay increase for our military men and women.”

Bill Highlights:

Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO)/Global War on Terrorism (GWOT)– The legislation includes $73.9 billion in OCO/GWOT funding. This will provide the needed resources for preparation and operations in the field to fight ongoing threats, including funding for personnel requirements, operational needs, the purchase of new aircraft to replace combat losses, combat vehicle safety modifications, additional Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) assets, and maintenance of facilities and equipment. It also provides critical support to our key allies, such as Israel, Ukraine and Jordan, to resist aggression.

Additional funds are targeted to requirements identified by our military services, including higher troop levels, readiness efforts, infrastructure, and equipment recapitalization and modernization. This also includes additional training time, facilities and aircraft repairs, procurement of modernized equipment, and the research and development of new military capabilities.

Military Personnel and Pay– The legislation provides for 1,324,000 active-duty troops and 822,900 Guard and Reserve troops. The bill includes $1 billion above the request for additional end strength, and fully funds a 2.4 percent pay raise for the military.

Operation and Maintenance– Included in the legislation is $241 billion for operation and maintenance. This funding supports key readiness programs to prepare our troops for combat and peacetime missions, including flight time and battle training, equipment and facility maintenance, and base operations. This funding will help rebuild our forces to ensure our troops have the training and equipment they need.

Research and Development– The bill contains $84.3 billion for research, development, testing, and evaluation of new defense technologies. This funding will help support current military operations and help prepare our nation to meet a broad range of future security threats.

Specifically, this funding will support research and development of: the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter; space security programs; the new Air Force bomber program; a next-generation JSTARS aircraft; the Ohio-class submarine replacement; Future Vertical Lift; the Israeli Cooperative Programs; and other important research and development activities, including those within the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).

Equipment Procurement– The legislation provides a total of $149 billion for equipment and upgrades. These funds support our nation’s military readiness by providing the necessary platforms, weapons, and other equipment our military needs to train, maintain the force, and conduct successful operations.

For example, the bill allows for the procurement of 11 Navy ships, including funding for one carrier replacement, two DDG-51 guided missile destroyers, two Virginia-class submarines, and three Littoral Combat Ships; for 84 F-35 aircraft; $1.8 billion for 24 F/A-18E/F Super Hornet aircraft; for 56 UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters; for 12 MQ-1 Gray Eagle unmanned aerial vehicles; for 7 P-8A Poseidon aircraft; for 15 KC-46 tanker aircraft; for 116 Stryker Double V-Hull upgrades; billion for the upgrade of 85 Abrams tanks; million for the upgrade of 145 Bradley fighting vehicles; million for the Israeli Cooperative Programs; million for the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV); million for National Guard High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) recapitalization; and for the National Guard and Reserve Equipment Account.

Defense Health and Military Family Programs– The bill contains $34 billion for base requirements for the Defense Health Program to provide care for our troops, military families, and retirees.

Specifically, the bill provides for cancer research, for traumatic brain injury and psychological health research, and for sexual assault prevention and response.

Reductions and Rescissions to Save Tax Dollars– The bill reflects commonsense decisions to save taxpayer dollars where possible in areas that will not affect the safety or success of our troops and missions. Some of these savings include: $1 billion from lower-than-expected fuel costs, $345 million due to favorable economic conditions, and $1.5 billion in savings from rescissions of unused prior-year funding.

For a bill summary, please visit: https://appropriations.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=394930

For the bill report, please visit: https://appropriations.house.gov/uploadedfiles/hrpt-115-hr.pdf

For the text of the bill, please visit: https://appropriations.house.gov/uploadedfiles/bills-115hr-sc-ap-fy2018-defense-defense.pdf

Rep. Carter represents Texas District 31, which includes Fort Hood, the largest active duty armored military installation in the free world. He serves as Chairman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Appropriations, co-chairman of the Congressional Army Caucus, is on the Subcommittee for Commerce, Justice and Science and the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.

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