WASHINGTON - Today, Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-TX), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, made the following statement regarding the spending agreement:
“It is good that the defense needs in this measure do not appear to be tied to any other issue. For too long, some in both parties have attempted to use our military as leverage to pursue other political objectives. Our defense needs should stand on their own merits, and doing so here is an important step on the long path to rebuilding America’s military."
This agreement makes a down payment on restoring our military. It provides half of the $30 billion increase that the President requested for defense, which includes $5 billion for urgent combat needs and $10 billion for beginning to restore military readiness. We still have a long way to go to get our military in shape to meet the threats we face, and the importance of adequate funding in FY 2018 grows by the day."