Donald Trump signs appropriations ‘minibus’ into law, contains critical funding for Alabama
President Donald Trump on Friday signed into law a second appropriations “minibus,” which includes critical funding provisions for Alabama. H.R. 6157, is part of a larger package. It contains two critically important funding bills – Department of Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), Education, and Related Agencies – which make up over half of the total discretionary budget. The bill also contains a continuing resolution (CR) through December 7, 2018, for any appropriations bills not enacted before October 1, 2018. Alabama U.S. Senator Richard Shelby, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and its subcommittee on defense, on Wednesday praised the President’s signing of the second Fiscal Year 2019 appropriations minibus into law, which was supported by Congress with overwhelming margins. “The signing of this legislation marks a drastic turnaround in the way we have funded the government in recent years. As of today, 75 percent of the government is funded – on time and through an open, bipartisan process,” said Shelby. “This package continues a historic increase in funding for our nation’s defense, helping the President deliver on his commitment to rebuild the military and keep our Armed Forces the strongest and best trained, equipped, and prepared in the world. Shelby continued, “The critical funding impacting Alabama in this measure highlights our strong national defense capabilities and showcases our ability to lead the charge in medical breakthroughs and groundbreaking research. I am confident that this legislation will positively impact the lives of all Alabamians, and all Americans, and I hope we can continue down this path for the good of our nation.” The enactment of the Fiscal Year 2019 Defense and Labor-HHS-Education minibus marks the first time that America’s military has been funded on time through regular order in a decade. It also marks the first time that the Labor-HHS-Education bill has been enacted on time since 1996. With the President’s signature, five appropriations bills have been signed into law this month and 75 percent (74.9) of the government will be funded on schedule. This marks the most spending bills enacted on time since Fiscal Year 1997 – more than two decades ago. Both the Department of Defense and Labor-HHS-Education bills contain critical funding for the state of Alabama. Department of Defense funding The legislation includes the following provisions impacting Alabama: The legislation includes the following provisions impacting the production and use of missiles and helicopters in the Wiregrass region: An additional $95 million for Future Vertical Lift research, which will help accelerate development of helicopters flown at Fort Rucker. $10 million to upgrade Navy MH-60 Seahawk helicopters. $1.0 billion for Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missiles. $111 million for Long Range Anti-Ship Missiles (LRASMs). The measure also encourages the Navy to evaluate the capabilities and costs of a surface-launched LRASM. $307 million for Joint Air-to-Ground Missiles (JAGMs). $663 million for Joint Air-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSMs), which recently made its debut in strikes on Syria in response to their use of chemical weapons. $484 million for Hellfire missiles, which are made in Troy and used for training at Fort Rucker. $254 million for Javelin missiles for the Army and Marine Corps. The legislation includes the following provisions impacting North Alabama: Army Research – $11.1 billion for investments in transformational technologies to address modern and future Army warfighting needs. Missile Defense – $10.4 billion for the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), including $1.1 billion to support urgent MDA unfunded priorities and emergent threats. The measure included $191 million for Standard Missile Improvements, which are built in Decatur, and supports work done by MDA at Redstone Arsenal and many local companies. Directed Energy – $184 million in additional funding to further develop directed energy technology and transition these activities to both offensive and defensive capabilities. Hypersonics – $664 million in additional funding to support and accelerate offensive and defensive hypersonics research and prototyping efforts. Cyber – $306 million in additional funding to expand and accelerate cyber research across the Department of Defense, including $127 million for Army cybersecurity research efforts and $116 million in Missile Defense Agency cybersecurity enhancements. The bill encourages the enhanced use of cyber red teams to address cyber intrusions that threaten our weapons systems, an area of particular excellence for Huntsville. Space – $200 million in additional funding for Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) development efforts to ensure assured access to space. United Launch Alliance (ULA), which builds rockets in Decatur, continues to be seen as the most reliable and capable space launch provider. Advanced Shipbuilding Capabilities – $15 million to establish North Alabama as a center for classified, high power large-scale electron beam welding. This technology is critical to new Navy Columbia-class submarines and many high-performance aerospace systems such as hypersonic reentry vehicles, scramjet missiles, and rocket and jet engine turbomachinery. Small Glide Munitions – An additional $15 million to integrate Small Glide Munitions onto on Unmanned Aerial Systems. This highly successful weapon is used by Special Operations Command and built in Huntsville. The legislation includes the following provisions impacting Anniston: $276 million for Hydra rockets, which are built in Anniston and fired from Army and Marine Corps helicopters. Funding for Army Vehicles which are overhauled and maintained at Anniston Army Depot (ANAD): $2.5 billion to continue modernizing M1 Abrams tanks; $393 million for Stryker vehicles, including an additional $94 million to support increased Stryker DVH A1 conversions; An additional $110 million for Paladin Integrated Management artillery vehicles; and $18 million in additional funding for M88A2 Hercules Improved Recovery vehicles. The legislation includes the following provisions impacting Mobile’s shipbuilding industry: Two additional Littoral Combat Ships (LCS). One additional Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) ship. An additional $700 million in Advance Procurement for LPD and LHA amphibious ships. Labor, HHS, Education funding The Labor HHS Education bill includes the following provisions impacting Alabama: $39.084 billion, a $2 billion increase, for the National Institutes of Health. Opioid Funding – $3.8 billion, an increase of $206 million above FY2018. This level includes $1.5 billion for the State Opioid Response grant in SAMHSA, replacing the sun-setting 21st Century CURES funds,
Senate defense spending bill means big bucks for Alabama
Senate lawmakers passed the FY2019 Defense Appropriations Act on Tuesday, which gives American troops a raise while strengthening the military and boosting national security, all the while providing critical funding for defense priorities throughout the state of Alabama. The bill, which was passed by a vote of 93 – 7, provides $674.4 billion to continue rebuilding our nation’s military, an increase of $19.8 billion above the Fiscal Year 2018 level for Pentagon funding, and $178.1 billion for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and Related Agencies for investments in critical medical research, opioid abuse prevention and treatment, and education. This includes $39.1 billion for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and increase of $2 billion, and $3.8 billion to combat the opioid crisis, and increase of $206 million. “This is the most significant step we have taken yet,” said Alabama’s senior Senator Richard Shelby, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and its Subcommittee on Defense. “For the first time in a decade, we are sending a Defense spending bill to the President’s desk on time. Returning to regular order has required us all to sacrifice and work together for the good of the process.” Shelby pointed out the defense bill also provides critical funding for defense priorities across Alabama. “We must approve defense appropriations legislation to fund military readiness, procurement, and testing — all of which are required to keep U.S. military forces the best trained, equipped, prepared, and strongest force in the world,” Shelby added. “This historic legislation further highlights Alabama’s strong national defense capabilities and provides our state with the opportunity to continue producing essential tools to support our men and women in uniform. I am confident that this legislation will allow our defense programs to remain of the highest caliber.” Following passage in the House, which is expected to vote on the legislation next week, the package will be sent to the President’s desk for his signature. Provisions impacting Alabama Provisions impacting the production and use of missiles and helicopters in the Wiregrass region: An additional $95 million for Future Vertical Lift research, which will help accelerate development of helicopters flown at Fort Rucker. $10 million to upgrade Navy MH-60 Seahawk helicopters. $1.0 billion for Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missiles. $111 million for Long Range Anti-Ship Missiles (LRASMs). The measure also encourages the Navy to evaluate the capabilities and costs of a surface-launched LRASM. $307 million for Joint Air-to-Ground Missiles (JAGMs). $663 million for Joint Air-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSMs), which recently made its debut in strikes on Syria in response to their use of chemical weapons. $484 million for Hellfire missiles, which are made in Troy and used for training at Fort Rucker. $254 million for Javelin missiles for the Army and Marine Corps. Provisions impacting North Alabama: Army Research: $11.1 billion for investments in transformational technologies to address modern and future Army war-fighting needs. Missile Defense: $10.4 billion for the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), including $1.1 billion to support urgent MDA unfunded priorities and emergent threats. The measure included $191 million for Standard Missile Improvements, which are built in Decatur, and supports work done by MDA at Redstone Arsenal and many local companies. Directed Energy: $184 million in additional funding to further develop directed energy technology and transition these activities to both offensive and defensive capabilities. Hypersonics: $664 million in additional funding to support and accelerate offensive and defensive hypersonics research and prototyping efforts. Cyber: $306 million in additional funding to expand and accelerate cyber research across the Department of Defense, including $127 million for Army cybersecurity research efforts and $116 million in Missile Defense Agency cybersecurity enhancements. The bill encourages the enhanced use of cyber red teams to address cyber intrusions that threaten our weapons systems, an area of particular excellence for Huntsville. Space: $200 million in additional funding for Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) development efforts to ensure assured access to space. United Launch Alliance (ULA), which builds rockets in Decatur, continues to be seen as the most reliable and capable space launch provider. Advanced Shipbuilding Capabilities: $15 million to establish North Alabama as a center for classified, high power large-scale electron beam welding. This technology is critical to new Navy Columbia-class submarines and many high-performance aerospace systems such as hypersonic reentry vehicles, scramjet missiles, and rocket and jet engine turbo-machinery. Small Glide Munitions: An additional $15 million to integrate Small Glide Munitions onto on Unmanned Aerial Systems. This highly successful weapon is used by Special Operations Command and built in Huntsville. Provisions impacting Anniston: $276 million for Hydra rockets, which are built in Anniston and fired from Army and Marine Corps helicopters. Funding for Army Vehicles that are overhauled and maintained at Anniston Army Depot (ANAD): $2.5 billion to continue modernizing M1 Abrams tanks; $393 million for Stryker vehicles, including an additional $94 million to support increased Stryker DVH A1 conversions; An additional $110 million for Paladin Integrated Management artillery vehicles; and $18 million in additional funding for M88A2 Hercules Improved Recovery vehicles. Provisions impacting Mobile’s shipbuilding industry: Two additional Littoral Combat Ships (LCS). One additional Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) ship. An additional $700 million in Advance Procurement for LPD and LHA amphibious ships. Watch Shelby’s remarks prior to the Senate vote:
Defense bill passes committee with support of 3 Ala. members, boosts military, supports shipbuilding
The House Armed Services Committee (HASC) voted 60-1 to authorize $696.5 billion in defense spending for 2018 Wednesday night with the support of three Members of the Alabama delegation that sit on the committee. Reps. Bradley Byrne (AL-01), Mike Rogers (AL-03) and Mo Brooks (AL-05) all voted in favor of the Fiscal Year 2018 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which authorizes funding and sets policy for the entire U.S. military. Many reforms were included in this year’s NDAA, including: Increases total military spending by 10% to rebuild from our current readiness crisis; Funds a 2.4% pay raise for our troops; Reforms the military’s acquisition process to make it more efficient; Improves oversight of cyber operations; Creates a new U.S. Space Corps to oversee the evolving space domain; Increases the size of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Army Guard and Reserve, Naval and Air Reserve, and Air Guard; Supports improvements to military facilities with a focus on restoration and modernization; and Authorizes construction of 13 new Navy ships to grow toward a 355 ship fleet. “This year’s National Defense Authorization Act helps rebuild our nation’s military, boosts shipbuilding in an effort to grow our fleet, and ensures our military men and women have the resources necessary to defend our country,” said Byrne of the NDAA. “Once again, we were able to secure authorization for the construction of three more Littoral Combat Ships, which are built right here in Southwest Alabama. These ships continue to excel in the fleet, and that is a testament to the over 4,000 men and women who work at the Mobile shipyard. The legislation included language important for Alabama’s 3rd Congressional District that affects the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) and the Anniston Army Depot (ANAD). Language was also included to study some of the funding mechanisms of the depot in hopes of using the information to make workload planning more dependable and consistent. “The men and women and the Anniston Army Depot work very hard to support our nation’s warfighter and I want to ensure we are doing everything we can in Congress to support them,” said Rogers. “This is the first step in providing our nation’s military personnel with the resources needed to protect America,” remarked Brooks. “The FY18 NDAA authorizes a very substantial $62 billion increase over FY 2017 funding, thereby taking significant steps to reverse military declines and addressing America’s military readiness crisis by increasing the size of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Army Guard and Reserve, Naval and Air Reserve, and Air Guard.” The bill is expected to be considered by the full House in July.
Pentagon chief Ash Carter: Don’t extend stopgap funding through May
Defense Secretary Ash Carter Tuesday warned Republican leaders in Congress that plans to operate the Pentagon on autopilot through as late as May are “unprecedented and unacceptable.” Carter said such plans would freeze the sprawling department’s budget for too long and harm national security. GOP leaders are negotiating over the duration of a stopgap spending measure to keep the Pentagon and most of the rest of the government operating after the current temporary funding bill expires next Friday. House Republicans initially said the next stopgap measure, called a “CR” in Washington parlance, would run through March 31 but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., wants a later date because the Senate will be so busy with a crush of business under the incoming Trump administration. “A short-term CR is bad enough, but a CR through May means DoD would have to operate under its constraints for two-thirds of the fiscal year,” Carter said. “This is unprecedented and unacceptable, especially when we have so many troops operating in harm’s way.” McConnell had initially pressed to wrap up the remaining 11 appropriations bills – totaling more than $1 trillion – by the end of this year. But House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., bowed to the wishes of the incoming administration and demands by conservatives to punt the unfinished legislation into next year. Some Republicans believe they’ll get a better deal next year from Trump than they would from President Barack Obama – including more Pentagon funding and policy “riders” to reverse Obama regulations – but top aides say the legislative outcomes probably won’t be much different. Carter also warned of delays in procurement of new weapons such as transport and attack helicopters, a new in-flight tanker for the Air Force, and a next-generation nuclear submarine. Republished with permission of the Associated Press.
Alabama delegation gets behind federal National Defense Authorization Act re-approval
The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a 2016 National Defense Authorization Act, funding the Pentagon and related military and intelligence operations through the next fiscal year. The bill was a site for a great deal of activity by Alabama lawmakers, who mostly supported the bill. U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne, for instance, worked to keep a small fleet of littoral combat ships — in-shore frigates the Navy calls “networked, agile, stealthy surface combatant capable of defeating anti-access and asymmetric threats” — growing in the face of recent cuts. Byrne told Alabama Today he is happy with Friday’s result. “I am very proud of our efforts to secure authorization for three more Littoral Combat Ships,” Byrne said Friday, “My colleagues in Congress are continuing to realize what our Navy leaders have said all along: The LCS is a critical piece of our naval fleet. I will continue to work tirelessly to support our nation’s Navy and the hardworking men and women at the Austal shipyard in Mobile.” Another member of the House Republican caucus from the Yellowhammer state, U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, also voted “yea” on the measure and largely concurred with Byrne’s findings. “The NDAA is critical in providing for our national defense,” Rogers, a six-term congressman from Alabama’s 3rd District. “I was proud of the provisions included under jurisdiction of the Strategic Forces subcommittee I chair. I was also pleased language was included in the legislation to help protect jobs at facilities funded by the Working Capital Fund, like the Anniston Army Depot.” Rogers also offered an amendment to transfer out-of-date firearms to the federal Civilian Marksmanship Program: “[A]s a gun owner and gun rights supporter, I was thrilled my amendment, which would allow the Army to transfer its surplus vintage firearms to the CMP, was also included. I hope the Senate acts soon on this important piece of legislation.” U.S Rep. Gary Palmer also issued a statement Friday about his support of the measure, which now goes to the Senate for final approval before heading to the desk of President Barack Obama. Specifically he trumpeted his work with U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks, who joined him in supporting the bill. “A strong America is vital to our national security, and to that of our allies. The men and women who wear the uniform deserve to be given the equipment and training they need and the pay and benefits they earn. “I am pleased that the Congress passed an amendment I co-sponsored offered by Rep. Mo Brooks. This amendment stripped a provision that would have allowed illegal immigrants granted amnesty under the president’s unconstitutional executive order to join the military. I do not believe Congress should ratify the Administration’s illegal action, nor do I believe that the NDAA is the appropriate place to legislate concerning illegal immigration.” The Senate is expected to take up the bill soon, though no timeline was immediately available at press time. Amid the key provisions of the bill, according to staff analysis, are the following: Reforms the acquisition strategy to make the process less burdensome while maintaining accountability; Lays the foundation for reforming the military compensation system to help recruit and retain the best; Mandates the implementation of the Pentagon’s planned 20 percent reduction in headquarters budgets and personnel; Eliminates more than 460 mandated reports to free up vital manpower; Creates a Job Training and Post-Service Placement Executive Committee to help move members out of military service and into the workforce; Continues oversight and protection of our troops from sexual assault; Reinforces the mission against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL); Provides lethal aid to Ukraine in their fight against Russian-backed separatists; Prohibits the closure of Guantanamo Bay; and Authorizes a 2.3 percent pay raise for troops, compared with the President’s proposed 1 percent pay raise. With full support of the Alabama delegation, the bill passed Friday afternoon by a largely party-line 269-151 vote on the House floor.
Mo Brooks leads U.S. House GOP to strip immigration language from defense bill
U.S. House conservatives on Thursday voted down a nonbinding provision aimed at helping young immigrants without permanent legal status enlist in the military, angering some fellow Republicans and handing Democrats a political issue heading into an election year. The vote was 221-202 to remove the measure from Congress’ annual defense policy bill. Some 20 Republicans voted “no” but couldn’t overcome conservatives who threatened to oppose the overall bill if they didn’t get their way. “This Congress should support and represent Americans by voting to stop military service opportunities from being taken from struggling American families in order to give them to illegal aliens,” GOP Rep. Mo Brooks of Alabama, who led the fight, argued on the House floor ahead of the vote. The handful of Republicans on the other side of the issue struggled to round up votes. Their job was made harder because Democrats had already decided to vote against the defense bill for unrelated budgetary issues, giving Brooks and his supporters leverage to bring down the bill if they didn’t prevail. “This is a mistake,” said Rep. Carlos Curbelo, a freshman Republican from Florida. “It sends the wrong message to the country. I assure you that the overwhelming majority of Americans are for allowing young people who were raised in this country, who love this country and want to serve it, to have that opportunity.” Democrats wasted no time in jumping on an issue that could help them mobilize Latino voters heading into a presidential election year. House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California and her top lieutenants held a news conference to denounce Republicans over the issue, and presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton also got in on the action. She issued a prepared statement from her political director, Amanda Renteria, saying: “If these courageous young men and women want to serve, they should be honored and celebrated, not discriminated against.” The debate revived the simmering partisan dispute over executive actions President Barack Obama took this past fall to defer deportations for millions of immigrants in this country illegally, including expanding protections for those, known as Dreamers, who arrived in the United States as young children. Many Republicans argued that supporting the provision included in the defense bill would have validated the actions Obama took, which have been challenged in court and are on hold pending a ruling by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. “The House should not take action to legitimize the president’s unconstitutional overreach,” said House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte, a Virginia Republican. Other Republicans argued that the $612 billion defense policy bill, which covers a multitude of military issues, was not the place for a debate on immigration. The measure by Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego of Arizona would have expressed the House’s view that the Pentagon should study whether military enlistment should be opened to Dreamers. It was added to the defense bill during a marathon committee session last month, with the support of six Republicans. But several Republicans asserted Thursday that it shouldn’t have been included in the first place, suggesting that perhaps it only was because the debate occurred so late at night and people were not fully focusing. “It went for 18 hours, late in the process one of our members offered an amendment to insert the immigration issue into this bill, it was unfortunate and it was inappropriate,” said Alabama Rep. Bradley Byrne. Gallego disputed that argument, saying his amendment was offered about 10:30 p.m., which he asserted was not overly late. Republished with permission from The Associated Press.
