Rep. Graves, House Pass Critical Military Funding Bill

Washington, D.C. – Rep. Tom Graves (R-GA-14) today voted for and the House passed the Department of Defense Appropriations Act (H.R. 6157), annual legislation that funds the military.
“This bipartisan legislation is another critical piece of President Trump’s plan to rebuild the military,” said Rep. Graves. “Building off the progress we made in last year’s funding bill, this legislation makes historic investments to ensure our military is ready to combat 21st Century threats. It modernizes equipment, speeds training programs, strengthens cyber operations and includes a well-deserved pay raise for the troops and their families. Additionally, the bill boosts Georgia’s contribution to our national defense by including essential funds for the critical missions based in our state.”
Below is a list of the bill’s highlights:

1. $674.6 billion for the Department of Defense for fiscal 2019, which covers operations, readiness activities, equipment modernization, and health programs for troops and their families;
2. Supports an increase of 15,600 troops, which is consistent with the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA);
3. Provides funding for a 2.6 percent pay raise for the troops;
4. Includes $3 billion in advanced procurement for the Columbia-class nuclear submarine program, which will replace current Ohio class submarines based in Kings Bay, Georgia;
5. Includes funding for one additional Compass Call aircraft – an electronic-attack capability that uses a G550 aircraft manufactured near Savannah – which will save taxpayer dollars by allowing a more rapid conversion from the current aircraft;
6. Provides funding for High Mobility Engineer Excavator Vehicles, which are manufactured near Savannah, for the Marine Corps for the first time;
7. Contains funding for eight additional C-130J aircraft, which are made in Marietta, Georgia;
8. And safeguards America’s sacred relationship with Israel by maintaining critical funding for joint defense and security programs.