Senate Appropriations Committee approves funding bill for Defense Department

The Senate Appropriations Committee approved the FY2020 funding bill for the Department of Defense by a narrow 16-15 margin.

The $694.9 billion funding bill includes an increase of $20.5 billion above FY2019. The recommendation consists of $622.5 billion in base funding, $70.7 billion for overseas contingency operations (OCO), and $1.7 billion for emergency designated funding supporting disaster recovery efforts. Further, it supports a military pay increase of 3.1 percent, the largest in a decade. It also investments in both basic research and future technologies such as hypersonics, 5G, artificial intelligence, missile defense, and cybersecurity.

“This is a strong bill. It continues increases in funding for our nation’s defense that meet the objectives of the National Defense Strategy by improving readiness, investing in innovation, and bolstering the combat effectiveness of the Department of Defense,” Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby (R-AL) said. “Last year, Congress successfully marked the first time in a decade that America’s military was funded on time through regular order – which is key to ensuring the United States maintains its military advantage. Without sustained and predictable investments to restore readiness and modernize our military, we will rapidly lose our military advantage – something we cannot afford in light of increasing national security challenges from around the globe.”

The proposed bill also includes $10.58 billion for Missile Defense Agency (MDA), an increase of $1.2 billion above the request. Further, it recommends $1.85 billion for 18 additional F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft and associated spare parts; $2.1 billion for 12 KC-46A Tanker aircraft; $1.7 billion for 24 F/A-18E/F Super Hornets; $1.4 billion for 73 UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters; and $1.1 billion for 6 P-8A Poseidon aircraft. The bill also provides an additional $1.64 billion in the science and technology budget activities.