Pete Domenici: “this Defense Appropriations bill, S. 1894, provides $244.8 billion in new discretionary budget authority and $243.2 in…”

“this Defense Appropriations bill, S. 1894, provides $244.8 billion in new discretionary budget authority and $243.2 in total discretionary outlays for the Department of Defense. There are some major elements to this bill that are important for Senators to know. The bill, as reported, is within the Defense Subcommittee's Section 602(b) allocation and, thus, complies with the requirements of the Budget Act. The bill fully funds certain important initiatives that were requested by the President, including a three percent pay raise for all military personnel and the end strengths for all of the active and reserve military services. More importantly, the bill also funds needed increases in each of the major accounts of the defense budget. Each of these accounts was left with major underfunding problems by the administration's budget request. The administration would have us believe that these increases are uncalled for an excessive; following that advice would have the following consequences: Programmed medical care for military beneficiaries would be underfunded by $475 million, and that care would be reduced. The average age of military barracks that is now over 30 years would increase. The average age of tactical aircraft would increase to over 20 years, and some Air Force fighters would be as old as 40 years. Flight training for Air Force fighter pilots would decrease from 20 hours per month to an unacceptable 16 hours.”