Defense

Washington, D.C. – Today, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act will be debated on the House floor. The legislation directly invests in America’s military superiority, shapes a more efficient and effective Department of Defense, protects from threats at America’s border, and takes care of our troops and their families.
 

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I rise today to offer H.R. 4016, the Fiscal Year 2026 Department of Defense Appropriations Act. I want to start by thanking Chairman Cole for his leadership in this process.  I also thank the Defense subcommittee ranking member, Ms. McCollum, for her partnership and friendship.  Finally, I thank the defense subcommittee staff for their tireless work on this year’s bill. 

Thank you, Chairwoman Foxx and Ranking Member McGovern.

It is a pleasure to appear before the committee today in support of H.R. 4016, the Fiscal Year 2026 Department of Defense Appropriations Act.  I know our time is relatively short, so I will try to be brief.

First, I would like to thank Chairman Cole for his leadership and guidance as we have worked through a particularly challenging process this year, given the recent conclusion of the FY25 process and the continuing lack of a detailed defense budget request. 

I would also like to thank both Ranking Member McCollum and Ranking Member DeLauro for their continuing friendship and partnership of many years.

As our time is very short today, and everyone is tired, I will seek to be relatively brief.

Chairman Calvert, thank you for all the work you have done to ensure leadership in America’s defense, and thank you to Ranking Member McCollum for her partnership in that endeavor. 

We hope for peace, while always being prepared to sustain it. 

That has always been the burden and the honor of a free nation – and generation after generation, our military has stood as the greatest force for liberty the world has ever seen.