U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw (R-FL) voiced his support for bolstering the nation’s defense and providing the military with the tools it needs to do so, voting in favor of the Fiscal Year 2016 Defense Appropriations Act, which the House passed last week.
The legislation would allocate funds for critical national security measures, both inside U.S. borders and around the world, and would establish a number of health and quality-of-life programs designed for members of the military and their families.
“While Harry Reid continues to play politics with our national security, threatening to veto the Senate consideration of the National Defense Authorization Act and calling it a ‘waste of time,’ I am proud to take another step to strengthen national security on the First Coast and around the globe and invest in key programs for our military,” Crenshaw, a member of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, said.
“That’s what I did with my vote … to pass the comprehensive, bipartisan Defense Appropriations bill for the coming fiscal year. In the face of constant threats against our country and her people from forces who wish to destroy freedom, we must remain vigilant and united in the Global War on Terror.”
The bill provides funding for state-of-the-art military equipment, including P-8As, Tritons and MH-60Rs, and training systems for the Littoral Combat Ships. These defense assets will be spread throughout the country, including bases within Crenshaw’s Northeast Florida district. Naval Station Mayport is the designated homeport for the East Coast LCS fleet, and Naval Air Station Jacksonville is the East Coast home for the MH-60Rs and the nation’s P-8A fleet and Triton operations facility. The bill also fully funds the authorized 2.3 percent pay raise for the military.
“My commitment to keeping America safe is to keep America strong,” Crenshaw, who also is chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government. “The Fiscal Year 2016 Defense Appropriations Bill achieves this goal by investing funds in projects to protect national security and ensure our military has resources it needs to get the job done. Moreover, the legislation keeps faith with our men and women in uniform and their families by providing the health and quality-of-life programs that they’ve earned and deserve.”