Cole Remarks During Floor Consideration of H.R. 8774, Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2025 (Submitted For The Record)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank my good friend for yielding.

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.

Today’s measure includes a one percent increase for defense. I have been clear in my view that I believe this increase is insufficient, and more is needed to ensure our armed forces remain the best manned, equipped, and trained in the world. However, the Fiscal Responsibility Act is the law of the land, and today’s bill reflects the parameters imposed by that statute.

Nonetheless, today’s measure takes real and important steps toward enhancing our military capabilities.

It increases pay for our servicemembers, helping to hold them harmless following the inflationary crisis of recent years.

It supports our friends and allies around the globe, including nations such as Israel and Taiwan, both of which face significant threats from nearby authoritarian powers.

It supports counter-narcotics efforts, helping to stanch the flow of deadly fentanyl into our communities.

And it prepares our military for further modernization and innovation, such as the development of critical new weapons systems like the B-21 bomber and fifth and sixth-generation fighter aircraft, ensuring that our armed forces continue to have the weapons and tools they need to confront any foe anywhere in the world.

I’m deeply proud of the work we have done on this measure, and I want to thank and congratulate Chairman Calvert for his excellent work on this bill.

I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill.

With that, I yield back.