WASHINGTON (AP) — The House Thursday passed a $717 billion defense policy bill that would give the military a 2.6 percent pay hike, the largest in nine years.
The bipartisan 351-66 vote sends the measure to the Senate, where a key panel completed a companion measure in a closed-door session on Wednesday.
The annual measure sets policies and a budget outline for the Pentagon that are funded by a subsequent appropriations bill that typically follows its parameters fairly closely.
The military got a major budget increase under the terms of a bipartisan pact passed earlier this year that the Pentagon’s many allies in Washington promise will address shortfalls in military readiness such as pilot training, maintenance of equipment, and procurement of new weapons systems.
Readiness issues contributed to a situation in which almost four times as many military service members died in training accidents as opposed to combat. Just this spring, aviation accidents have claimed 25 lives.
House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry, R-Texas, said that the measure puts a particular focus on pilot training and retention.
“The key focus of this bill is restoring readiness to ensure that when our men and women in uniform go out on mission, they have the best equipment, the best training and the best support our nation can provide,” Thornberry said.
The measure would block the use of operational military units or military equipment if President Donald Trump carries out plans for a massive military parade in Washington, D.C., if it would hamper military readiness.
What??? Are you kidding me??
717 Billion to give the military a 2.6% raise? BULL MUFFINS
I need to gather more info to do the actual math (present salary costs), but on the surface this looks like another grand theft to me.
It was the end of June 2016….I won’t forget it….The Congress had passed the defense budget in the midnight hour for appropriations totalling $ Six hundred and thirty billion dollars. This was Obamas administration….contracts, kick – backs ( because that’s how it works) and jobs all lined up….with the passing of the torch to Hillary in mind.
I won’t forget because there was no media coverage. NONE….,4 OR 5 DAYS EVERY DAY WAS…..the story of the little boy eaten by the alligator at Disney World Orlando…,24 – 7 for 5 days – all media ran a marathon story to distract the masses from what kind of war ( defense? ) and citizens taxed / for corporations profit. Bombs = Jobs. God help us.