Thank you, Chairwoman Granger, Ranking Member Visclosky, and Chairman Frelinghuysen, for your work on this bill.
This bill builds on the success of the Fiscal Year 2017 and 2018 omnibus bills in providing ample funding to address Secretary Mattis’ priorities and needs for our armed services.
Working within the funding levels agreed upon in the most recent budget agreement shows a more serious commitment to bipartisanship for appropriations for the Department of Defense. This year, the Committee skipped the OCO-to-base gimmicks that past bills have employed to skirt the capped levels, and which had endangered spending on defense and non-defense priorities.
Funding levels are strong, and oversight is being taken seriously to eliminate wasteful spending at the Department of Defense. Overall, this bill is quite good, especially when compared with some other bills this Committee has considered this year.
But this budget agreement lasts only through the upcoming fiscal year, and while short-term needs may be met, we should invest more in research to address new threats, like our capabilities in space, cybersecurity, and hypersonics.
I am concerned about the future of our national security as we approach the FY2020 cliff without another budget agreement. Our service members and industrial base alike need certainty to plan accordingly and continue to innovate.
It is my hope that this bill will not be subject to poison pill riders that would prevent what otherwise would be broad bipartisan support. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to improve this bill and move forward with the Fiscal Year 2019 appropriations process.
Source: U.S. Department of HCA
