Politics & Government
House Votes To Boost Pentagon Budget To Record $810 Billion, Keeps 5 Littoral Combat Ships
The House Armed Services Committee backed a proposal to increase spending for the Department of Defense.
June 22, 2022
The House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday backed a proposal to increase spending for the Department of Defense by $37 billion on top of the record $773 billion proposed by President Joe Biden.
Find out what's happening in San Diegofor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The vote paved the way for a Pentagon budget of at least $810 billion next year after the Senate Armed Services Committee already backed a $45 billion increase in its version of the bill.
The two chambers will decide the ultimate level when they meet in conference on the bill at an undecided date.
Find out what's happening in San Diegofor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The vote in favor of the $37 billion amendment to the annual National Defense Authorization Act was 42-17, as more than a dozen Democrats joined Republicans in favor of higher spending.
The amendment keeps five littoral combat ships from being decommissioned, includes $2.5 billion to help pay higher fuel costs, $550 million for Ukraine, eight more Boeing-made F-18 Super Hornet fighter jets, five more Lockheed Martin-built C-130 Hercules planes, and about $1 billion for four more Patriot missile units.
Biden had already requested a record peacetime Pentagon budget of $773 billion. In addition, another $40 billion is set aside for other national security-related programs at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Energy and other agencies.
Biden’s budget requested a 4.6% pay raise for troops and the largest research and development budget in history, as Russian aggression in Ukraine spurs demands for more military spending.
Last year, the NDAA authorized $778 billion in defense spending, which was $25 billion more than requested by Biden.
Reuters contributed to this article.
Times of San Diego is an independent online news site covering the San Diego metropolitan area. Our journalists report on politics, crime, business, sports, education, arts, the military and everyday life in San Diego. No subscription is required, and you can sign up for a free daily newsletter with a summary of the latest news.
