Boebert Amendments and Legislative Priorities to Support our Troops Included in Historic Defense Bill

This week, House Republicans took up a historic Defense Appropriations bill to fund our troops. The bill includes four amendments passed by Congresswoman Boebert and nine appropriations requests submitted by the Congresswoman that were included in the base text.

Congresswoman Lauren Boebert (CO-03) said, “This week, the House took up a Defense Appropriations bill to provide a historic pay raise for our servicemembers and ensure they have the resources necessary to accomplish their missions. The bill strengthens border security and solidifies our position as the world's leading military power. The Third Congressional District secured some major victories with this legislation as 13 legislative priorities are included in the bill that will pass the House. These include taking action to effectively address the fentanyl crisis while dismantling the criminal organizations responsible for it as well as funding important research and defense systems. I will always fight for our men and women in uniform and am proud of the actions we have taken in that regard this week.”

Background:

This week, the House of Representatives debated H.R. 4365, the fiscal year 2024 Department of Defense Appropriations Act. The House is expected to pass this legislation through the full House of Representatives on Friday, September 29^th.   

In the 118th Congress, Congresswoman Boebert has been an extremely effective legislator, focusing on the needs of the Third Congressional District and delivering numerous legislative victories. Specifically, three of the Congresswoman’s bills and 42 of her amendments have passed the House. She also passed six bills through the House Committee on Natural Resources and the House Committee on Administration. In addition, the Congresswoman has secured $19.7 million for important water and infrastructure projects in the Third District through Community Project Funding requests included in  House Appropriations bills.

Congresswoman Boebert successfully passed four amendments through the House of Representatives to H.R. 4365 to support our troops and the interests of the Third Congressional District. These amendments include:

1. Boebert Amendment No. 78
   Redirects $3 million from other wasteful spending in the bill to fund research for combat-related traumatic injuries. Steadman Clinic located in the Third Congressional District in Basalt, Colorado, will benefit from these resources and performs important research for U.S. warfighters that suffer combat-related traumatic injuries.
    
2. Boebert Amendment No. 80
   Redirects $5 million from other wasteful spending in the bill to fund Navy and Marine procurement of MK107 cartridges. Valor Tactical Innovation, located in the Third Congressional District in Grand Junction, Colorado, is a major employer and manufacturer of MK107 cartridges that will benefit from these additional resources.
    
3. Boebert Amendment No. 329
   Redirects $3 million from other wasteful spending in the bill to increase funding for the National Guard Counterdrug Program to train and equip our servicemembers to transnational criminal organizations and prevent the flow of illicit fentanyl and synthetic opioids into our communities. Hundreds of thousands of lives have been lost to the fentanyl crisis in America, including thousands in Colorado.
    
4. Boebert Amendment No. 330
   Redirects $3 million from other wasteful spending in the bill to increase funding for Counter Narcotics Support to enhance DOD’s role in countering the flow of illicit fentanyl and synthetic opioids. Hundreds of thousands of lives have been lost to the fentanyl crisis in America, including thousands in Colorado.

Congresswoman Lauren Boebert submitted numerous appropriations requests supporting our troops that were included in the base bill. Read the full letter from Defense Subcommittee Chairman to Congresswoman Boebert listing these priorities HERE. Congresswoman’s pro-military policies that were included in the base bill include:

1. Language included in the bill regarding a prohibition on the use of Government Travel Charge Cards for gaming or adult entertainment.
2. Fully funds the President’s fiscal year 2024 budget request for cartridges and cart actuated devices for the Marine Corps. Valor Tactical Innovation located in Grand Junction, Colorado, is a major employer in the Third Congressional District and manufacturer of MK107 cartridges that will benefit from these additional resources.
3. Supported highest possible funding for patient studies. Steadman Clinic located in the Third Congressional District in Basalt, Colorado, will benefit from these resources and performs important research for U.S. warfighters that suffer combat-related traumatic injuries.
4. 86 F-35s, including an increase of three additional F-35As above the request.
5. Fully funds the budget request for F-135 engine core upgrades.
6. $80 million in Procurement, Defense-Wide, as requested, for Iron Dome.
7. $80 million in Procurement, Defense-Wide, as requested, for Arrow Weapon System.
8. $40 million in Procurement, Defense-Wide, as requested, for Short Range Ballistic Missile Defense (SRBMD).
9.  $300 million for U.S.-Israel missile.

Courtesy of the House Appropriations Committee

The Defense Appropriations bill funds agencies and programs under the jurisdiction of the Department of Defense (DOD) and Intelligence Community, including the Military Services, Central Intelligence Agency, and the National Security Agency. For Fiscal Year 2024, the bill provides $826.45 billion in new discretionary spending, which is $285.87 million over the President’s Budget Request and $28.71 billion – or 3.6% – over the FY23 enacted level.

Additionally, this bill includes:

A historic pay raise of 30% to junior enlisted servicemembers and an increase of 5.2% in basic pay for all military personnel.

A $20 billion cut in wasteful spending from President Biden’s budget that redirects resources to address warfighting needs, counter Communist China, and support our Servicemembers and their families.

The bill prohibits the implementation, administration, or enforcement of the Biden Administration’s executive orders on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Woke DEI policies like are harming troop morale and recruitment.

The bill counters Communist China by:

• Making a historic investment in security cooperation funding for Taiwan.
• Supporting training programs for Taiwan, including through the National Guard State Partnership Program.
• Prioritizing the delivery of defense articles and services to Taiwan.

Innovates and modernizes the Military by:

• Investing in next-generation fighter aircraft, helicopters, tactical combat vehicles, and submarines.
• Empowering combatant commanders to quickly obtain the cutting-edge technology and weapons they need and to rapidly get them to the warfighter; and
• Funding the modernization of the nuclear triad: the B-21 Raider, the Columbia Class Submarine, and Sentinel.

Enhances DOD’s role in countering the flow of illicit fentanyl and synthetic opioids by:

• Providing $1.16 billion for the drug interdiction and counterdrug activities account, which is $275 million above the request.

• Increasing funding for the National Guard Counterdrug Program.
• Increasing funding for train and equip programs to counter illicit fentanyl and synthetic opioids and the transnational criminal organizations that contribute to the fentanyl crisis, particularly the Sinaloa and Jalisco drug cartels.
• Transferring Mexico from U.S. Northern Command to U.S. Southern Command, which enables better coordination and prioritization.

To read the entire bill click here.