Appropriations Committee Approves Fiscal Year 2023 Defense Funding Bill

Statement

The House Appropriations Committee today approved the fiscal year 2023 Defense bill. Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04), Chair of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, applauded its passage on a 32-26 vote. The legislation funds agencies and programs in the Department of Defense (DoD) and Intelligence Community, including the Services, Central Intelligence Agency, and the National Security Agency.

For 2023, the bill provides total funding of $761.681 billion, an increase of $32.207 billion above 2022. It is in line with President Biden's budget request, a funding level endorsed by the Secretary of Defense.

The legislation:

Provides critical security assistance to Ukraine with resources for training, equipment, weapons, supplies and services, salaries and stipends, and intelligence support to the Ukrainian military and national security forces
Protects our national security, preserves our domestic advanced manufacturing base to support jobs and economic growth, and invests heavily in research and development with funding recommended by the Secretary of Defense
Closes the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay and limits United States involvement in Yemen
Defends democracy and counters China with robust funding to advance a free and open Indo-Pacific
Supports working families by requiring contractors to pay a $15/hour minimum wage
Confronts the climate crisis with $2.5 billion in investments in clean energy and climate adaptation to protect facilities, readiness, and global security
Addresses violence against women with funding to tackle sexual assault in the military and promote mental health through suicide prevention funds and directs DoD to address extremist ideologies, including white supremacy. The bill includes $479 million to fully implement the recommendations of the Independent Review Commission on Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment. In addition, the bill continues to provide $47 million for the Special Victims' Counsel program.
"The Fiscal Year 2023 Defense Appropriations bill is a responsible investment in our national security that will keep our nation strong and the American people safe," Chair McCollum said. "This bill invests in creating good-paying union jobs, ensuring a safe environment for our service members and their families, and taking on the very serious security threats facing our nation and the world, such as ongoing Russian aggression and climate change. As we continue to invest in diplomacy, development, and health, we also scrutinized this year's budget for inefficiencies and for cuts that could be made to save taxpayer money. As Vladimir Putin continues his brutal, illegal war in Ukraine, this legislation continues to support the Ukrainian people in their fight to defend their democracy. This legislation makes strategic investments in our national security needs in order to keep America safe, secure, and strong."

"With democracy under attack in Ukraine, it is critical that our Department of Defense and intelligence agencies have the resources requested by the Secretary of Defense to support our allies, protect our national security, maintain a strong industrial base to support good paying jobs, and counter rising threats," Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) said. "Building off the support Congress has delivered to counter Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Defense Appropriations bill honors our soldiers and their families and civilians who support our nation's military. This includes a strong military pay raise and funding to combat sexual assault in the military as recommended by the Independent Review Commission on Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment. With this bill, we are rising to meet the current challenges and living up to our moral responsibility to support Ukraine and its people and defend global democracy."

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