U.S. Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT), chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, recently joined U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) in touring the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility in Honolulu.
The effort also included operational briefings regarding the force posture of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and an update on regional security partnerships.
“It was an honor and privilege to meet with the brave women and men of our military who are responsible for defending our nation in the Pacific and around the world,” Tester said. “I’m also grateful for the invitation from Sen. Schatz to tour the Red Hill facility and see it with him first hand. I’m going to keep working with him and the Department of Defense to make sure the Navy has the tools they need to move forward.”
In his role as Defense chairman, Tester said he would continue to ensure service members have the resources needed to do their jobs and keep the nation safe.
“That starts by passing a full-year appropriations package that meets their needs,” he said. “I hope my colleagues will continue working with me in good faith to get that done.”
During the tour, Tester met with U.S. Indo-Pacific Command leadership from the Navy and Air Force at command headquarters, per authorities, adding there were briefings from senior military leadership on Pacific operations and force posture, in addition to regional security partnership updates.
The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense provides over $720 billion annually to the Department of Defense and related agencies, representing more than 95 percent of the military’s yearly budget.