Shelby Unveils FY2021 Appropriations Bills
Statement
U.S. Senator Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today unveiled all twelve Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21) funding measures and the FY21 subcommittee allocations. Senator Shelby issued the following statement regarding the legislation:
"By and large, these bills are the product of bipartisan cooperation among members of the committee. As negotiations with the House begin in earnest, I look forward to working with Chairwoman Lowey, Vice Chairman Leahy, and Ranking Member Granger to resolve our differences in a bipartisan manner. Time after time, we have demonstrated our willingness to work together and get the job done. We have before us the opportunity to deliver for the American people once again."
Senator Shelby, who also chairs the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, applauded the committee's work on the FY21 defense appropriations bill:
"It is absolutely critical that we work to strengthen our military and provide the funding needed by our Armed Forces to maintain our military advantage. This bill includes significant resources to advance and modernize capabilities for our men and women in uniform, and also works to ensure that Alabama continues to play an important role in our national defense."
Various Alabama priorities were included in the FY21 defense funding measure, such as:
Shipbuilding -- includes funding for one additional Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) ship with an increased medical capability, as well as $50 million to explore autonomy capabilities for existing EPF ships
Army research -- $12.8 billion, an increase of $270 million from last year, for investments in transformational technologies to address modern and future Army warfighting needs
Missile Defense -- $10.2 billion for the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), an increase of $1.1 billion from the request to ensure support to urgent MDA unfunded priorities such as space sensors, hypersonic defense, and cybersecurity
Hypersonic weapons -- fully funds Army hypersonics research, which is an increase of $461.4 million above the FY20 enacted level, and as well as an additional $60.0 million to develop a common hypersonic glide body and $47.0 million to advance hypersonics test infrastructure
Cyber -- includes funding within Defense-Wide accounts for the budget request of $449.0 million to support the Department of Defense's 5G program
In addition to the defense appropriations bill, the Senate's FY21 appropriations measures recommend funding for the following:
Space Launch System (SLS) -- $6.7 billion provided for Space Exploration, including $2.6 billion for SLS which is critical to support the development and sustainment of the nation's human exploration goals
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) -- $566 million included for FBI construction, which supports ongoing and growing efforts in Huntsville
Military Construction -- $11.6 million included for F-35 Simulator Facility at Montgomery Regional Airport Base
Approximately $30 million is provided for Alabama's Appalachian Development Highway System
U.S. Geological Survey Hydrologic Instrumentation Facility -- an increase of $30 million is provided throughout Water Resources for staffing and grants
$40 million is included for the National Water Center located in Tuscaloosa
U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) -- includes an additional $48 million for the recapitalization and upgrade of the USCG MH-60T helicopter fleet, which is completed in Troy
The bill text and explanatory statements released are funding measures for the Appropriations Subcommittees on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies; Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies; Defense; Energy and Water Development; Financial Services and General Government; Homeland Security; Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies; Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies; Legislative Branch; Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies; State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs; and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies.
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