Calvert, Cole: Innovate, Modernize, Support Our Servicemembers
Washington, D.C. – House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee Chairman Ken Calvert (R-CA) and Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) today remarked on the House floor in support of H.R. 8774, the Fiscal Year 2025 Defense Appropriations Act. They highlighted how the legislation strategically refocuses the Pentagon on its core mission: delivering combat-ready military forces to deter war and ensure national security.
Watch Subcommittee Chairman Calvert's remarks here.
Defense Subcommittee Chairman Calvert remarked, “The Defense Appropriations Subcommittee scrutinized the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Request line-by-line and conducted rigorous oversight. This resulted in $18 billion in cuts of requests that were unnecessary or unjustified. This bill provides no blank checks. Instead, this bill builds on the priorities from Fiscal Year 2024. These priorities include prioritizing the fight against China, promoting innovation and modernization, supporting our servicemembers and their families, optimizing the Pentagon’s civilian workforce, increasing the Department’s role in countering the flow of illicit fentanyl and synthetic opioids, supporting America’s close ally, Israel, and ensuring the Department focuses on its core mission of training and equipping our warfighters, not culture wars.”
Full remarks as prepared for delivery here.
In remarks submitted to the record, Chairman Cole stated, “Of the many responsibilities given to Congress in the Constitution, the greatest and the gravest is to provide for the common defense. Decade after decade and generation after generation, the armed forces have served to protect the United States and defend peace and democracy around the globe. But in order to continue to fulfill their mission, Congress must do its duty. With today’s measure, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2025, we are fulfilling our constitutional responsibility to provide our warfighters with the tools they need to continue to preserve American freedom and democracy.”
Full remarks as submitted to the record here.
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