Kay Granger: “Congress' number one responsibility is to provide for the defense of this Nation, and this agreement enables us to…”

“Congress' number one responsibility is to provide for the defense of this Nation, and this agreement enables us to fulfill that most fundamental constitutional duty. This bill reflects the needs of our defense and intelligence experts so that they have the resources needed to combat the threats of today and in the future. In order to do this, this bill focuses on readiness, modernization, and innovation. With these funds, our military can begin to rebuild after 16 years of war. The needs are great. We also include a 2.4 percent pay raise authorized for our troops with our appreciation for what they do. For procurement, the bill increases investment in ground vehicles, aircraft, ships, munitions, and other equipment. Secretary Mattis has said he never wants our enemies to face a fair fight, and this bill ensures our enemies will face a strong and ready U.S. military. It makes investments in vital aircraft, including Joint Strike Fighters, Super Hornets, Apaches, Chinooks, Lakotas, V-22 Ospreys, Black Hawks, and C-130s. For the Navy, it funds 14 Navy ships, including one carrier replacement, three littoral combat ships, two guided missiles destroyers, two attack submarines, and funding to continue the Ohio Replacement Submarine program. The National Guard is critical to our national security.…”