Published: 09-29-08
Passage of Defense Appropriations Provides Critical Funding for Troops & Texas Military Programs
WASHINGTON—Federal funding for our troops and key Texas defense programs supported by U.S. Sen. John Cornyn R-Texas moved a step closer to enactment today as the U.S. Senate passed the FY 2009 Department of Defense Appropriations bill. The annual funding measure was included in a larger continuing resolution bill which will now be sent to the President for his expected approval.
“The most fundamental responsibility of the federal government is the protection of our country and its citizens. This legislation is an important step toward making sure our military men and women have the essential cutting-edge equipment training and innovative technology as they continue to fight and win the war against radical Islamic terrorists and other enemies of freedom. Our nation owes our troops the very best as they put their lives on the line every day in the defense of our nation” Sen. Cornyn said today.
As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee Sen. Cornyn has been a strong supporter of key Texas military programs and installations and he said today that they will directly benefit from this appropriations bill. “The bill contains substantial funding for several programs that are critical to our national defense such as the Joint Strike Fighter F-22 Raptor and the V-22 Osprey aircraft. The Texans who raise their right hands to serve in our Armed Forces their dedicated families who support them and these world-class Texas defense programs are the key reason we continue to say: Texas defends America” Sen. Cornyn said.
Among the key Texas defense programs funded in today’s measure are:
• V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft (Bell Helicopter / Amarillo). Approximately $3B will be appropriated exceeding the President’s total funding request for V-22 by $2M.
• F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (Lockheed Martin / Fort Worth). $6.3B will be appropriated matching the President’s total budget request for JSF. This amount includes $2.9B for the procurement of 14 aircraft and $3.4B for continued program development.
• F-22 Raptor (Lockheed Martin / Fort Worth). $2.9B will be appropriated for the procurement of 20 aircraft (resulting in 183 total aircraft in F-22 fleet). In addition $523M will be appropriated for advance procurement of an additional 20 aircraft to be produced in FY10.
• Future Combat Systems (Boeing & SAIC / Ft. Bliss). $3.6B will be appropriated which is $26M more than the President’s request. The additional funding will go to accelerate the acquisition of certain Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Unmanned Ground Vehicles.
• Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (Bell Helicopter / Dallas & Fort Worth). $198M will be appropriated for 12 aircraft.
• Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) (BAE Systems / Sealy). $444.7M will be appropriated for procurement of these trucks.
• Caiman Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected Vehicles (MRAP) (BAE Systems / Sealy). $186.4M will be appropriated for MRAP procurement (including Caiman and other MRAP types) exceeding the budget request by approximately $4M.
• Other Notable Funding
• Equipment Shortfalls for Guard and Reserve (Texas National Guard). $750M will be appropriated to provide needed equipment for the National Guard and Reserve. Though most of the authorized funding in the bill is not targeted for specific state National Guard forces the TX National Guard will receive its fair share. The President did not specifically request this funding in his FY09 budget.
• Compensation for “Stop-Loss” of Personnel. $72M will be appropriated though not requested by the President for a new initiative to pay any service member whose term of service is extended involuntarily and arbitrarily. They would be paid an extra $500 for every extra month served.
• Medical Care. $25.8B will be appropriated $1B above the President’s request and $2.4B above the FY08 appropriations level to provide our troops with top-of-the-line medical care. This includes $300M for traumatic brain injury and psychological health services.
• Military Families. $2.8B will be appropriated $102M above the President’s request for family advocacy efforts dependents’ education and daycare programs.
• Barracks and Military Hospitals. $3B will be appropriated $734M above the President’s request to improve Army barracks military hospitals and other facilities.
