The House Appropriations Committee approved the fiscal year 2017 Defense Appropriations Bill on Tuesday, which would increase discretionary defense spending by $3 billion.
U.S. Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ), the chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, said budget cuts and constant deployments in recent years have eroded readiness and capabilities. Frelinghuysen added, however, that the Defense Appropriations Bill “does not gamble.”
“In an increasingly dangerous and rapidly changing world, we must guarantee that our military and intelligence community have the capability to defeat barbaric Islamic terror groups and deter aggressor-nations, like Russia, Iran, China and North Korea,” Frelinghuysen said. “This bill recognizes the critical need for increased funding for more training, readiness and equipment and provides for military families. And our heightened oversight ensures that every dollar counts.”
U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw (R-FL), the chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, said that the bill would provide “key resources now and in the future” that keep the military trained and equipped, while supporting service members and their families.
“It’s no secret that the world is a dangerous place,” Crenshaw said. “That’s why, in the face of continuous threats from terrorist organizations like ISIL and aggressor nations, like Russia, Iran, China and North Korea, we must protect national security at every turn. Ensuring our military has the tools it needs to meet the task at hand 24/7 at home and around the globe remains paramount. No priority in Congress is higher: that’s why I so strongly support the fiscal year 2017 Defense Appropriations Bill.”
The bill would provide $517.1 billion in discretionary funding and $58.6 billion in Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO)/Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) funding in fiscal year 2017.
“Funding for Tritons, P8A’s, E-2D Advanced Hawkeye’s as well as DDG-51 guided missile destroyers and Littoral Combat Ships demonstrate our commitment to strategic planning in the mission to protect national security,” Crenshaw said. “These defense assets will be spread throughout the country, including Northeast Florida bases. Naval Station Mayport is the designated homeport for the East Coast LCS fleet and DDG-51 guided missile destroyers are also homeported there. Naval Air Station Jacksonville is the East Coast home to the nation’s P-8A fleet and Triton operations facility are also based there. Northrop Grumman manufactures E-2D Advanced Hawkeyes in St. Augustine, Florida.”