Hearing of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee - Opening Statement of Rep. Visclosky, Markup on the FY 2021 Defense Funding Bill

Hearing

Congressman Pete Visclosky (IN-01), Chair of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, delivered the following remarks at the Subcommittee's markup of its fiscal year 2021 bill:

I thank everyone for attending today's subcommittee markup and for your contributions to this bill.

This legislation recognizes the complex challenges the members of our Armed Forces and intelligence community face every day throughout the world, and it aims to ensure that they are able to continue to meet these challenges and complete their missions to the best of their abilities with providing funding for the equipment they need to perform their missions effectively and as safely as possible.

This bill also builds upon the efforts the Committee undertook last year regarding the morale and quality of life issues of those in uniform, their families, DoD civilians, and defense communities. Most notable, the bill provides funding increases for numerous programs directly related to servicemembers and again increases funding for military childcare facilities.

Additionally, this bill again contains several provisions to address the Department's wanton disregard for Congressional intent. As I stated last year, these actions are not taken lightly, but are absolutely necessary in order to allow Congress to carry out its Article I responsibilities.

I look forward to continuing to collaborate with all the members of the Subcommittee as well as with all the members of the full Appropriations Committee over the next week as our bill moves through Committee.

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