Sessions Provides Update To Wiregrass After Markup Of Defense Bill
By: Stephen Crews
Updated: May 25, 2012
Press Release
U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL), a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, announced today that the Committee had completed its mark-up of the annual defense bill and provided the following comment and update:
U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL), a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, announced today that the Committee had completed its mark-up of the annual defense bill and provided the following comment and update:
"I
can report that Alabama's contribution to our nation's security was
vigorously
defended, that unwise cuts were redirected, and some valuable gains were
achieved--all while keeping the bill within the new discretionary
spending cap on defense.
Alabama's men and women in uniform are among the finest the world has ever
known. Their honor, dignity, and courage represent the highest ideals of our state.
Memorial
Day is a somber reminder of the countless brave souls who have given
their last breath for this country. We must never break faith with those
who wear the uniform, and we must ensure that our military remains the
best supported and equipped in the world.
In
order to keep our military dominant we must prevent a debt crisis. Such
an event would devastate our economy and hamstring our ability to fund
the operations of government. Our debt is so massive that annual
interest payments on our debt are set to exceed our entire defense
budget within ten years. So every department of government
will have to achieve savings to prevent an otherwise certain debt crisis
from occurring.
But budget reductions must be made wisely and strategically, with the recognition
that--unlike so much of what Washington does--defense is a core, constitutional function of government."
WIREGRASS / FT. RUCKER
"The defense bill fully funds the Defense Department's request for Army aircraft procurement
at $5.8 billion, including Army helicopter programs," Sessions said. "These
programs are vital to our military and to the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence at Fort Rucker. The
Committee
agreed that it was necessary to increase the funding for the proven
capabilities provided by the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense program
built in Troy by $100 million, a recognition of the important
contribution this program makes to our nation's
security. The Committee also agreed to increase authorized funding for
Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) modifications in Eufaula, increasing the
request by $7.7 million. The total authorized funds for the upgrade kits
totaled $17.4 million.
This is a valuable component of our defense systems."
GENERAL OVERVIEW
The
legislation rejects the Obama Administration's request to make veterans
pay more for TRICARE benefits and authorizes a 1.7 percent pay raise
for our troops
It
prevents the Administration's request for BRAC to authorize potential
closures of military bases in 2013 and 2015, and ensures the future of
many projects
that are vital to our national security--all while keeping within the new
defense spending limits
The
President's overall request, including overseas contingency operations
and nuclear energy defense programs, was $631.6 billion; the Senate
Armed Services
Committee authorized funding of $630.2 billion. The authorization falls
within the requirements of the Budget Control Act discretionary caps,
cutting defense by $487 billion over a 10-year period.
Other notable figures include:
o The
base defense budget request was $525.3 billion; the Senate Armed Services Committee authorized $524.7 billion.
o The
nuclear weapons program request was $17.8; the Committee authorized $17.3 billion.
o The
overseas contingency operations request was $88.4 billion; the Committee authorized $88.1 billion.
The
Committee's mark-up reflects the first major step in the annual
authorization process for the Department of Defense. Further Senate
consideration of the
legislation is expected this summer.
HUNTSVILLE
The
bill authorizes full funding for missile defense at the requested level
of $9.7 billion, of which $8.2 billion is authorized for the Missile
Defense Agency
and $1.5 billion is authorized for Army Missile Defense programs. This
bodes well for related programs like the Ground-based Midcourse Defense
program, SM3 block IIB, Patriot, and other theater missile defense
programs and projects managed and designed by the
Missile Defense Agency, Redstone Arsenal, and the Huntsville community.
The
committee agreed that it was necessary to increase the funding for the
proven capabilities provided by the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense
program
by $100 million above the President's request, to $560.7 million.
The Committee fully funded the request for Ground-Based Interceptors, adding 5 interceptors to the overall inventory.
The Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle was fully funded at $1.7 billion.
Operationally
Responsive Space (ORS)--Strategic Forces Subcommittee allowed for
transferring $60 million in prior years funds and restored $45 million
to FY13
funding for the nano and micro satellites and launch systems--providing
lower cost access into space.
MONTGOMERY:
The
908th Airlift Wing has been decorated by the Air Force as the
outstanding unit of 2011. It has received this prestigious award on
multiple occasions. Fittingly,
after much hard work, we have been able to temporarily halt the
President's unwise request to reduce Air Force C-130s, and have demanded
further objective analysis before any proposed Air Force cuts to C-130
force structure move forward in 2013 and 2014.
MOBILE
The
Littoral Combat Ship, as the Secretary of the Nav
