The House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee convened today to deliberate on its Fiscal Year 2025 bill, which was subsequently approved.
Defense Subcommittee Chairman Ken Calvert (R-CA) emphasized the strategic priorities of the bill. "In a resource- and time-constrained environment, my top priority for the Fiscal Year 2025 Defense Appropriations Bill is to strengthen our military’s position against any threat presented by China," he stated. "To accomplish this, I have once again increased investments in programs that fuel and field innovative technologies, including the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) and the Accelerate the Procurement and Fielding of Innovative Technologies (APFIT) initiative. Every dollar counts within the topline limitation imposed by the Fiscal Responsibility Act. Therefore, this bill withholds funds from initiatives and programs that are wasteful, inefficient, or do not contribute directly to our national security. It continues record levels of funding for the National Guard’s counterdrug programs to enhance the Department of Defense’s ability to counter China’s malicious incursions into our homeland. Lastly, this bill supports the true difference makers and our best national security assets – our men and women in uniform and their families – with a pay raise, including one specifically for our junior enlisted servicemembers."
Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) also underscored the importance of maintaining military readiness. "The privilege of peace is delivered through vigilance, and our military has supported that mission generation after generation," he remarked. "As we face renewed threats and aggressors across the globe, providing our men and women in uniform with the tools needed to deter, fight, and win is critically important. This FY25 bill strengthens America’s defense and the readiness of our armed forces. By focusing resources on the core duty of the Pentagon, the mission to deliver a combat-ready military that can prevent war and protect our great nation is met."
A summary of the bill is available here.
Bill text is available here.
