Military Spending 2019
Update: 8/15/2018
Update: 8/15/2018
SENATE TACKLES SPENDING PACKAGE: The Senate on Wednesday began debate on its largest appropriations package of the year, setting spending levels for the departments of defense, education, labor, and health, POLITICO's Sarah Ferris reports.
If it passes, it would be a big deal. The Senate hasn't approved a spending bill for DOL, HHS, or Education (except as part of an omnibus) since 2007. Dozens, if not hundreds, of amendments are likely to be filed next week on everything from family migration to abortion, though only a select few will get floor time.
When will it pass? Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), chairman of the Appropriations Committee, anticipates the package could be approved by Labor Day — or even sooner.
The White House on Wednesday praised the $675 billion Defense bill, S. 3159 (115), but called some parts of the Labor-HHS-Education bill, S. 3158 (115) , "wasteful." The administration objected to a lack of increased funding for the Office of Labor-Management Standards, which monitors federal standards for private-sector labor unions. In addition, it opposed $274 million devoted to the NLRB, which exceeded the president's budget request. Read more from Ferris here.
June 6 (UPI) -- The House Appropriations Committee unveiled a $674.6 billion defense spending bill Wednesday.
While the committee scheduled a markup session for Thursday and debate with the Senate's version of the budget will likely take months, the House version provides $605 billion in base discretionary funding. That figure is less than President Donald Trump's administration requested, but more than the 2018 level.
The proposed funding would pay for more than 15,000 additional troops and pay raises for those already in military service -- as well as 93 F-35 Lightning II and two dozen F/A-18 E/F fighter jets. The House version also calls for a dozen new Navy ships.
The procurement budget includes more F-35s and littoral combat ships than the military requested, but Congress supports buying the equipment to keep factories and shipyards working and available for future orders, The Hill reported.
"With the changing global dynamics and ever-growing threats to our security, it is absolutely imperative that our military is properly trained, equipped and fully supported in order to do their jobs," panel chair Rodney Frelinghuysen, R-N.J., said in a statement. "This legislation does all of this by including robust funding for our troops, the defense programs and activities necessary to accomplish our national goals and ideals, and to continue to rebuild our military."
The Senate began debating its $716 billion defense bill on Wednesday, which highlights potential threats from Russia and China.
The Senate version also includes an Army brigade permanently stationed in Poland, and calls for short-term Army capability to fill gaps in cruise missile defenses. Moreover, it authorizes $200 million in security assistance to Ukraine and specifically calls for a strategy to counter Russian influence in Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua.
It also bars purchases from China's Huawei Technologies or telecom equipment maker ZTE, companies blocked by the U.S. Commerce Department over trading with Iran and North Korea.
The Senate and the House have passed their bills. Now, they need to be reconciled.
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