Cunningham Secures Critical Lowcountry Priorities in Defense Funding Legislation

Press Release

Rep. Joe Cunningham (SC-01) secured critical Lowcountry priorities in the Fiscal Year 2021 defense funding bill, which passed the House Appropriations Committee today. Cunningham has made ensuring Lowcountry military installations have the resources they need one of this top priorities in Congress.

"The Lowcountry plays a critical role in ensuring our national defense," said Rep. Joe Cunningham. "I am proud to stand behind a funding bill that recognizes the importance of Lowcountry military installations and ensures they have the resources they need to protect and defend our great nation."

Due to his advocacy, the defending funding bill includes:

Funding for the procurement of two Virginia-class submarines, which will support nearly a 1,000 manufacturing jobs in the Charleston area.
$3 million for the Cyber Institute at the Citadel, which allow this important institution to continue to support our national defense by helping to identify, educate, and expand our cybersecurity talent pipeline.
$50 million in funding for the Defense Community Infrastructure Program, which help address deficiencies in infrastructure that support military installation, such as by expanding Red Bank Road.
$8.7 million to accelerate the fielding of the Advanced Airborne Expendable Countermeasure Dispenser System, which will help protect the U.S. Marine Corps' F-35B aircraft and pilots from incoming missiles.
Thanks to Cunningham's advocacy, the legislation includes language that addresses cybersecurity shortages by encouraging the Department of Defense (DoD) to collaborate with colleges and universities near military installations and in areas with significant veteran population to help fill gaps in the cybersecurity workforce. This provision could help local education collaboratives, such as the South Coast Cyber Center in Beaufort, to secure support to establish and grow their programs.

The legislation also restricts the DoD from downsizing the military health system until they provide additional information to ensure any efforts to streamline the system minimizes negative effects on servicemembers and military families. Cunningham has repeatedly called attention to the harm planned cuts to Naval Hospital Beaufort could have on the surrounding community and their ability to provide essential medical services to the estimated 35,000 servicemembers, retirees, and military families living in the Lowcountry.

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