House Passes Defense Funding for FY 2014

Press Release

Yesterday evening Rep. Ralph Hall voted in favor of H.R. 2397, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, which passed the House 315-109. This bill funds the Department of Defense for Fiscal Year 2014.

"Ensuring the safety of all Americans is our greatest responsibility, and safety is provided through a strong national defense and by the brave efforts of our servicemen and women," said Hall. "In order for our troops to do their duties effectively and efficiently, they must have adequate funding."

Hall continued, "When the President's sequester -- which I opposed -- took effect in March, half of the imposed cuts were irresponsibly made to Defense. In fact, the Department of Defense now faces a nearly 20% reduction in funding over the next 10 years. According to then-Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, these reductions go well beyond reducing inefficiencies and cut directly into necessary troop force structure and military modernization.

"Sequester-level Defense funding puts national security and the safety of our troops at great risk and endangers both federal and private sector jobs. That is why I am pleased to support this appropriations bill to close the gap on the drastic sequester cuts,stabilize America's Defense, and protect the security of Americans.

"I am also pleased to lend my support to a bipartisan amendment particularly important to the Red River Army Depot in the 4th District. Red River is a vital job-provider in the community, and this amendment would forbid expending any 2014 funds to furlough active capital fund employees due to sequester cuts. Because capital fund employees are funded through customer orders and not federal appropriations bills, the current Secretary of Defense's decision to furlough these workers is raising costs and creating unnecessary delivery burdens.

"I will continue to support the safety of Americans through a strong defense and am thankful for the sacrifices of our servicemen and women."

The Department of Defense Appropriations Act would:

- Ensure that troops deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq, and around the world have the necessary equipment, resources, and training to successfully complete their missions and return home;
- Maintain the annual pay increase of 1.8% for troops;
- Provide for the health and well-being of our troops, their families, and retirees;
- Protect victims of sexual assault in the military and work to prevent future assaults;
- Protect America's closest ally, Israel, through cooperative anti-missile programs;
- Strengthen East Coast missile defense capabilities; and
- Improve cyber-attack prevention, among other measures.

Source