Senate Committee Approves $21 Billion Boost to Defense Budget, Challenging Spending Cap

[Social Media]

 

In a significant move to bolster national security, the Senate Appropriations Committee recently approved a defense bill that adds an additional $21 billion to the defense budget. This decision aligns with requests for increased investment in national security but pushes back against a previously established spending cap agreed upon by House Republicans and the Biden administration last year.

 

The new Senate bill includes $852.2 billion for the Department of Defense, surpassing the $833 billion allocated by House appropriators in June. The House version adhered to a modest 1 percent increase from the previous fiscal year, in line with an agreement between President Biden and former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in 2023 to reduce spending in exchange for raising the debt ceiling.

 

The Senate's version marks a more than 3 percent increase from the last fiscal year. Notably, the additional $21 billion is classified as an emergency expense, allowing it to bypass the constraints of the Biden-McCarthy agreement. The defense funding bill now heads to the Senate floor for full chamber consideration. The full Senate is also yet to vote on its version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which outlines the priorities for the allocated funds. In June, the House passed its NDAA, which includes several culture war amendments.

 

Senator Patty Murray, chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, underscored the importance of the new investments in the funding bill, stating that it "builds on our efforts in the National Security Supplemental to strengthen our defenses in key regions, deter conflict, promote stability, and ultimately, keep our nation safe." She added, "With new investments to ensure our military remains the best in the world while supporting our servicemembers and standing with our allies."

 

Senator Jon Tester, chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, echoed Murray's sentiments, emphasizing that the defense funding bill aims to bolster U.S. strength. "This strong, bipartisan budget will accelerate investments to allow our military to stay ahead of the threat of China, provide certainty for our servicemembers," he said in a statement.

 

However, it remains uncertain whether far-right Republicans in the House, who have historically opposed increases in spending, will accept the emergency funds for defense. The committee's decision comes on the heels of Senator Roger Wicker's call in May for a "generational" investment in national defense, proposing an additional $55 billion for fiscal 2025 and aiming for 5 percent of gross domestic product to be allocated to the defense budget over the next five to seven years.

 

Wicker and other lawmakers from both parties have expressed growing concerns about global security, citing Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine, Israel's conflicts with Iranian-backed groups in the Middle East, and China's threats in the Indo-Pacific region. The Senate's funding bill includes $500 million for the Indo-Pacific security fund to counter China, along with $37 billion to construct seven battleships as the U.S. seeks to match the size of the Chinese Navy. Additionally, the bill allocates around $4 billion for force protection and operations in Europe and over $17 billion for Middle East operations, slightly increasing the Biden administration's March budget request.

 

It also funds several key weapon programs, including the Sentinel nuclear missile replacement, the B-21 Raider nuclear bomber, hypersonic weapons research, and the acquisition of Black Hawk and Chinook helicopters.

 

As the defense funding bill advances, it reflects a robust commitment to enhancing U.S. military capabilities in the face of evolving global threats. The increased investment underscores the importance of maintaining a strong defense posture, ensuring that the U.S. military remains well-equipped to address current and future challenges. The debate over the additional funds and the broader defense budget will continue to unfold, highlighting the complex balance between fiscal responsibility and national security imperatives.

 

Credit: Hill  2024-08-05

 

 

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[Purdey]

If a defense budget is to defend the Homeland, why not spend on weapons based on the mainland and Hawaii? 

[Eric Loh]

18 minutes ago, Purdey said:

If a defense budget is to defend the Homeland, why not spend on weapons based on the mainland and Hawaii? 

The purpose of military defense is to prevent the war reaching the homeland. If you want peace, prepare for war and diplomacy - Brookings institution. 

[thaibeachlovers]

12 hours ago, Social Media said:

In a significant move to bolster national security, the Senate Appropriations Committee recently approved a defense bill that adds an additional $21 billion to the defense budget. This decision aligns with requests for increased investment in national security but pushes back against a previously established spending cap agreed upon by House Republicans and the Biden administration last year.

but pushes back against a previously established spending cap

 

and some on here wonder why Trump is popular.

 

 

 

[thaibeachlovers]

57 minutes ago, Purdey said:

If a defense budget is to defend the Homeland, why not spend on weapons based on the mainland and Hawaii? 

IMO it's only a "defense" budget when the lobbyists say it is. At the moment it's a make more money for the 1% budget, IMO.

[thaibeachlovers]

12 hours ago, Social Media said:

along with $37 billion to construct seven battleships as the U.S. seeks to match the size of the Chinese Navy.

 

I hope that is a misprint. Battleships became obsolete in WW2 due to being vulnerable to air power. IMO any large warship now is just a large slow moving target for missiles.

Small, fast moving, stealthy, frigate sized vessels armed with missiles might be successful, but that would depend on the situation they were used in. Have we not had on the Ukraine subforum breathless accounts of Russian warships being sunk by missiles?

[frank83628]

52 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

The purpose of military defense is to prevent the war reaching the homeland. If you want peace, prepare for war and diplomacy - Brookings institution. 

to wages wars away from US shores

[Purdey]

1 hour ago, Eric Loh said:

The purpose of military defense is to prevent the war reaching the homeland

Why does it have to be done by bombing foreign countries. Diplomacy overseas, yes, I agree, just not bombing Iraq, Iran and so one. None of them is capable of bombing the USA. The Brookings Institute did so well advising the government in Vietnam and Afghanistan,I suppose.

[john donson]

USA could have gotten affordable healthcare for everyone with the almost trillion dollars a year wasted on war toys...