Press Releases

(Washington, D.C.) – Congressman Larry Bucshon, M.D. (IN-08) released the following statement after voting to send legislation to President Trump’s desk that will fully fund our military and other key programs (H.R. 6157):

“One of the most important responsibilities the Constitution directly charges the federal government with is providing for our nation’s defense. This important funding builds on the work I have accomplished with my colleagues in the House over the last two years, to reverse the dangerous decline in military readiness due to chronic underfunding. Furthermore, it is the first time in a decade that Congress has sent the Defense Appropriations bill to the President’s desk prior to the start of the fiscal year.  In fact, combined with funding for nuclear security activities and military construction funding provided in another appropriations bill that was just signed into law, this will mark the first time in twenty years that the Defense Department will have all of its activities funded prior to the start of the fiscal year, providing our nation’s military the certainty it needs to make decisions.  This bill also invests in key health and workforce development programs to ensure America is competitive on the global scale.”

Background

Defense Appropriations

·       $674.4 billion in total funding – consistent with the NDAA

·       Boosts funding for our military to $606.5 billion, $17 billion above FY18

·       Increase funding for military readiness programs to $243.2 billion, $5.4 billion above FY18

·       Provides the authorized pay raise of 2.6% for our troops, largest in nine years

Health and Human Services, Education, and Labor Appropriations

·       $178 billion in funding

·       Boosts funding for the National institutes of Health to $39 billion

·       Provides historic levels of funding to fight the opioid crisis with $6.6 billion

·       Creates first Infectious Disease Rapid Response Recovery Fund

·       Improves school safety by investing over $1.5 billion in critical programs

·       Directs Department of Education Funding, totaling over $71 billion

·       Invests in a 21^st century workforce with $12.1 billion