US Government, WASHINGTON, D.C.: The Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee today approved Fiscal Year 2008 Defense Appropriations legislation that fully supports the needs of our men and women in uniform by investing in equipment, training, and cutting-edge weaponry while ensuring that our military personnel and their families are well cared for.
The legislation supports funding above the President’s budget request for increasing pay for military and civilian employees and for strengthening military health care.
The bill also invests in equipping the National Guard and Reserves to address severe shortages resulting from the demands of overseas deployments, which have made it more difficult to respond to natural disasters here at home.
Senate Defense Subcommittee Chairman Daniel K. Inouye said: “This legislation serves our men and women in uniform by ensuring that they are protected in the best possible way. It also cares for our wounded and injured by reversing planned cuts to military hospitals, and by adding $73 million to fund programs to provide treatment of those who have been wounded. And it maintains our nation’s readiness by supporting initiatives that ensure our military continues to be a 21st century force utilizing cutting-edge technology.”
“This Congress is committed to doing right by America’s military,” said Senator Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “I applaud the defense subcommittee for crafting strong legislation that invests in the resources we need to secure our nation by fully supporting our servicemen and women and strengthening our National Guard and Reserves. By investing in the next generation of cutting-edge military technologies, we will ensure that America’s military forces are the best-equipped in the world. I want to thank Chairman Inouye and the members of the subcommittee for their leadership in this critical effort.”
The full Senate Appropriations Committee will consider the Defense Appropriations bill tomorrow. Upon completion, the committee will have reported all 12 appropriations bills.
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