Daniel Inouye: “I fully support the measure before us. I would like to say how proud I am to serve with my colleague from Alaska. Once…”

“I fully support the measure before us. I would like to say how proud I am to serve with my colleague from Alaska. Once again, he has demonstrated to all of us his extraordinary legislative skill in pressing his case. I can assure my colleagues in the Senate, as I assure my chairman, that I will do my very best to see that his decision is carried out. This bill provides $383.8 billion in new discretionary budget authority, consistent with the subcommittee's target, and another $25 billion in emergency budget authority to cover a portion of the anticipated costs for the on-going wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The bill provides the necessary funds to support our men and women in uniform and their families--to include our Guard and Reserves. It recommends funding for a 3.5 percent pay raise for all service members and a 20,000 increase in army end strength as authorized by the Senate. The bill supports the critical modernization programs requested by the Defense Department including the Navy's DDX Destroyer, the Army's Stryker vehicles and the Air Force's F-22 fighter. It scales back those programs that DoD is trying to advance before the technology is mature and those that are experiencing delays or technical problems. The bill increases spending on research and development by nearly $1 billion with significant growth in medical programs, particularly those that directly impact warfighters in the current conflict.”