House panel approves defense spending bill

By Tony Bertuca / June 30, 2021 at 1:16 PM

The House Appropriations defense subcommittee has advanced the fiscal year 2022 defense spending bill, sending the measure to the full committee.

The bill was approved with no amendments by voice vote.

"Democrats have landed on a responsible funding level for the Department of Defense that maintains a strong national security posture today, while making important investments in modernization that will make us even stronger in the years to come," subcommittee Chairwoman Betty McCollum (D-MN) said in a statement.

Republicans, meanwhile, oppose the administration's defense budget request, arguing it should be increased between 3% and 5% to keep pace with inflation.

The current bill provides $706 billion for the Pentagon, in line with the Biden administration's request and an increase of $10 billion above the amount enacted in FY-21. The amount does not include military construction, which was funded in a separate bill.

The bill, among other things, would add $1.7 billion in Pentagon procurement funding to the Biden administration's budget request, but cut weapons development funding by $1.6 billion.

The full committee is scheduled to debate the bill July 13.

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