U.S. Reps. Ken Calvert (R-CA) and Tom Cole (R-OK) cheered the July 18 passage of the Fiscal Year 2026 Department of Defense Appropriations Act by the U.S. House of Representatives.
The chamber voted 221-209 to approve H.R. 4016, which would provide almost $832 billion in appropriations to the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) for military activities.
“Providing our men and women in uniform with the resources they need to keep America safe is one of the most important constitutional responsibilities of Congress,” said Rep. Calvert, chairman of the U.S. House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, who on June 16 sponsored H.R. 4016.
The passage of the bill will advance national security goals by investing in the platforms and programs that enhance America’s military dominance, the congressman said.
“The bill makes innovation a priority by expanding programs I have championed that rapidly deploy cutting-edge, difference-making systems into the hands of our warfighters,” Rep. Calvert added. “Our troops are the backbone of our national security and receive a well-deserved pay raise in this bill.”
H.R. 4016 would provide a total discretionary allocation of $831.5 billion, which is flat to the FY 2025 enacted level, and would adhere to the discretionary budget topline put forward in the budget request from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers.
Generally, the bill also would invest in “America’s military superiority,” shape a more efficient and effective DOD, provide protection at America’s border, and take care of the nation’s troops and their families, the summary says.
“We ensure our troops can deter, fight, and win,” said Rep. Cole, chairman of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee. “Strategic investments restore military strength, accelerate innovation, and reinforce peace through strength.
“The bill also bolsters U.S. industrial supply chains, delivers next-generation weapons and assets, and includes a well-earned pay raise for our troops,” Rep. Cole added, noting that under Rep. Calvert’s leadership, each allocation “upholds the warrior ethos, restores deterrence, and ensures our forces remain unmatched.”
H.R. 4016 now has to be reconciled with the U.S. Senate’s spending bill. The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee has yet to release its defense spending proposal.