Media Center

Today, U.S. Representative David Scott released the following statement on the House passage of H.R. 2638, the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance and Continuing Appropriations Act. This act funds the federal government for the first part of FY2009, and contains fully year funding for the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

“I am proud to say that this bill puts our troops first,” said Rep. Scott. “It builds on the efforts of the last two years by furthering our commitment to maintaining a strong national defense, improving military readiness and respecting our veterans who defend us and our freedoms. It secures resources to prepare troops for whatever emergencies may arise, providing them with first class weapons and equipment, and ensuring that they and their families are well taken care of. The bill will also provide $72.9 billion for improving the Veterans Health Administration, Medical Facilities, and many other projects important to the current and past members of our Armed Services.”

“I applaud the passage of this bill and the many opportunities it will bring to the constituents of Georgia’s 13th Congressional District. The defense funding included under the final 2009 spending bill will help secure jobs for the 6,900 Lockheed Martin employees working on F-22 and C-130 defense projects that are essential to our national security.”

The Homeland Security portion of this legislation will cut funding for low priority or poorly managed programs in order to increase investments in high priority areas including the security of our ports, rail and transit systems. The passage of this legislation enacts $40 billion in funding to keep Americans safe.

The Military Construction and Veterans Affairs part of this legislation sends a clear message to America’s servicemen and women, their families, and our veterans that we all appreciate and respect their service and sacrifice. It provides $72.9 billion for improving the Veterans Health Administration, Medical Facilities, as well as many other projects important to the current and past members of the Armed Services.

The Defense section of this legislation makes critical investments into the health, well-being and readiness of America’s forces. These recommendations address issues raised by troops, their families and Department of Defense officials in testimony before the Congress, and discovered through visits to military bases across the United States and overseas.

Key Defense Investments:

• Addressing Equipment Shortfalls: $750 million is specifically set aside to ensure that the National Guard and Reserve have all of the tools they need after years of irresponsible shortfalls. The President did not request funding specifically for Guard and Reserve.
• First Class Medical Care: $25.8 billion, $1 billion above the President’s request and $2.4 billion above 2008, to provide our troops with top of the line medical care. This includes $300 million for traumatic brain injury and psychological health.
• Compensation for Stop Loss: $72 million, not requested by the President, for a new initiative to pay troops $500 for every month their term of service will be involuntarily and arbitrarily extended in 2009.
  
  Weapons Programs
• F-22: $2.9 billion, for 20 F-22s as requested by the President and $523 million not requested by the President for advance procurement of an additional 20 F-22 Raptors.
• Future Combat Systems: $3.6 billion, $26 million above the President’s request, to accelerate the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle and Unmanned Ground Vehicle programs.
• Satellite Communications: $150 million, not requested by the President, for the advance procurement of the fourth Advanced Extremely High Frequency military communications satellite.

Overall, the bill totals $118.9 billion and provides $72.9 billion in discretionary spending, $47.6 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs, $25 billion for Military Construction, Family Housing and BRAC, and $207.29 million for related agencies. It is $3.6 billion more than the President’s request and $9 billion more than the historic fiscal year 2008 bill. 

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