Defense (112th Congress)
House Appropriations Chairman Hal Rogers gave the following statement on H.R. 2219, the fiscal year 2012 Defense Appropriations bill, on the floor of the House today:
"Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 2219, the Fiscal Year 2012 Defense Appropriations Bill.
"The nearly $649 billion in total funding contained within this legislation will provide our armed forces with the resources they need for our nation's missions abroad and the protection of our people here at home.
"This bill sustains our military readiness, facilitating the continued modernization of our national defense systems and preserving the American Armed Forces as the greatest military in the world.
"The fiscal year 2012 Department of Defense base budget recommendation before us today is $530 billion, which is $8.9 billion below the request. The overseas contingency operations recommendation is $118.7 billion, which is $842 million above the request. This increase is mostly attributable to the transfer of the Pakistan Counterinsurgency Fund from the State/Foreign Operations Subcommittee to the Defense Subcommittee.
"To reach the reduced base allocation of $530 billion, the Subcommittee reviewed in detail the budget request, and found areas and programs where reductions are possible without adversely impacting the warfighter or readiness.
"I would like to start by thanking Chairman Young and Ranking Member Dicks for your remarks and for your commitment to crafting a bipartisan Defense bill that supports our troops and addresses our critical national security needs.
"The $530 billion in non-emergency funding contained within this Defense bill will provide our armed forces with the resources they need, and will allow for the advancement of our nation's missions abroad and the protection of our people here at home.
"As our soldiers and Marines continue to put their lives on the line to eliminate terrorism and protect freedom around the globe, Congress must support and fund their actions in a timely and reasonable manner. This bill sustains our military readiness, facilitating the continued modernization and preservation of the greatest armed forces in the world.
