Defense (112th Congress)

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 5856, the Fiscal Year 2013 Defense Appropriations Bill.

This essential bill provides more than $519 billion dollars in critical resources for a strong national defense, supporting our warfighters and protecting the American people. This is an increase of $1.1 billion over last year and more than $3 billion more than the President's request. This is also more than $8 billion over what the Senate Democrats would like to provide.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Before us today is the Subcommittee recommendation for the fiscal year 2013 Department of Defense budget. This recommendation includes base funding of $519.2 billion, which is $3.1 billion above the CBO estimate of the President's request, and overseas contingency operations funding of $88.5 billion, the same as the request.

Thank you, Chairman Young and Mr. Dicks, for your remarks and your laudable leadership on this Committee. You both, as well as our dedicated staffs, have helped craft an excellent bill that provides the necessary resources to keep our country safe and that will advance our important missions around the globe.

I would like to thank Chairman Young and Mr. Dicks for their remarks as well as their continued leadership involving important issues facing the Department of Defense. Mr. Dicks, we will greatly miss your leadership and expertise in this subcommittee as you leave us for greener pastures next year. In addition, I would like to commend the committee staff on their hard work and tireless efforts. I am pleased that this bill is a result of a bipartisan effort.