The House approved a $658 billion consolidated defense appropriations bill on Thursday with key contributions from U.S. Reps. Tom Cole (R-OK), Kay Granger (R-TX) and Charlie Dent (R-PA).
The Make America Secure Appropriations Act, which consolidates spending bills for defense, military construction and veterans affairs, energy and water, and the legislative branch for fiscal year 2018, cleared the House on a vote of 235-192.
Cole led a successful amendment that would require the president to outline a strategy and budget analysis for a new authorization for use of military force (AUMF) within 30 days of the bill’s passage. He noted it has been 16 years since Congress voted on an AUMF.
“The last AUMFs passed by Congress gave the president authority to use military force against those responsible for the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, and against Iraq,” Cole said. “Some of the enemies with whom we are engaged did not even exist 16 years ago. We owe it to our allies, our citizens and to the men and women on the front lines the reassurance that America is committed to fighting and winning these wars and not rely on an out of date AUMF.”
The measure also includes a $1.6 billion down payment for a border wall, a 2.4 percent pay increase for service members, a prohibition on the closure of U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay and authorization for the heads of the Environmental Protection Agency and Army to withdraw the Waters of the United States rule.
Granger, the chairwoman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, said the bill would increase end strength, improve readiness, promote modernization and support investments in new technologies.
“After years of cuts, it’s time to rebuild our military and restore combat readiness,” Granger said, adding that the defense spending bill provides funding for more troops, more equipment, and more training. “It provides Secretary (James) Mattis with the resources he needs to address military readiness and also begin critical investments in increasing capabilities, lethality, and modernization.”
The bill would establish a $28.6 billion National Restoration Defense Fund. Mattis would be able to recommend investments to modernize armed forces based on a new defense strategy that is expected in September.
“Our adversaries are emboldened,” Granger said. “We must ensure that our military is prepared to confront anyone who threatens us. This can only be done by reversing the years of budget instability, defense spending caps, and continuous cuts that have undermined our military readiness.”
Additionally, the measure includes the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs (VA) and Related Agencies (MILCON-VA) Appropriations Act that was spearheaded by Dent, the chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on MILCON-VA. That provision would direct $78.3 billion in discretionary funds to the VA and $10.2 billion to military construction.
“… This bill will provide that peace of mind by providing the highest level of funding ever for the VA and meeting many of the welfare and readiness needs of the Department of Defense,” Dent said.
“The MILCON-VA bill accomplishes this by providing a $6 billion increase, which will enable steps to address critical issues such as reducing the disability claims backlog, guaranteeing continued medical care access for veterans, replacing the VA’s electronic record system and improving our military’s infrastructure.”
The bill bolsters military readiness and expansion through construction projects for training facilities, hospitals and military bases around the world.
Other priorities outlined in the MILCON-VA bill include mental health care and suicide prevention, traumatic brain injury treatment, prevention of opioid abuse, $1.4 billion for military housing, $575 million for National Guard and Reserve facilities.
“I remain committed to providing the necessary care and military resources to ensure that the men and women of our armed services are properly prepared and equipped to protect our great nation, and that they continue to be provided for as veterans,” Dent said.