Congressman Young Announces Highlights In FY05 Defense Appropriations Conference Report
Washington, D.C. - Alaska Congressman Don Young announced earmarks from FY05 Defense Appropriations Conference Report. The Conference Report provides $416.2 billion in new discretionary spending authority for the Department of Defense for functions under the House and Senate Defense Subcommittees' jurisdiction. This includes $25 billion in emergency spending requested by the President for early fiscal year 2005 cost associated with operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"I am pleased that we were able to appropriate these funds to our nation's armed services. As our troops continue to fight the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, we must continue to assure them that this country stands behind their efforts. I am also pleased that we were able to keep the missile defense funding in place, this will benefit Alaska's military," said Congressman Young.
More Highlights in the Conference Report:
- Is $1.6 billion below the President's amended FY 2005 budget request of $417.8 billion.
- Reflects an increase of $23.8 billion over amounts provided in FY 2004, excluding the FY 2004 Iraq Supplemental and the $25 billion Emergency Wartime Appropriation provided in FY 2005.
- Supports operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, provides the resources to prosecute the Global War on Terrorism, and increases funding for intelligence activities
- Fully funds military pay, benefits and medical programs.
- Initiates a major recapitalization of Army and Marine Corps ground forces.
- Supports the deployment of a national missile defense and continues investment in theater missile defenses.
- Continues development and procurement of major platforms such as the Virginia class submarine, the C-130, and V-22 transport aircraft, the F/A-18 and F/A-22 fighter aircraft, and the Joint Strike Fighter.
Additional Appropriations (Non-Defense):
- Iraq embassy and diplomatic security expenses -- $685 million
- Convention security, $25 million for New York City and $25 million for Boston
- Sudan Humanitarian Assistance -- $95 million
- FY04 Firefighting Assistance -- $500 million
Fiscal Year 2005 Defense Appropriations Conference Agreement -- Summary by Major Account:
- Military Personnel -- $103,731,158,000
- Operation and Maintenance -- $121,062,969,000
- Procurement -- $77,679,803,000
- Research, Development, Test and Evaluation -- $69,932,182,000
- Revolving and Management Funds -- $2,378,836,000
- Other Department of Defense Programs -- $20,655,510,000
- Emergency Wartime Appropriation -- $25,000,000,000
Alaska will especially benefit from the following Conference Report provisions:
- Military Personnel
The Conference Report fully funds the 3.5% military pay raise proposed in the President's budget, and increased levels for Basic Allowance for Housing, eliminating service members' average out-of-pocket housing expenses from 3.5% to zero in fiscal year 2005.
The Conference Report provides $14.7 million for 154 Active Guard Personnel to support 7 additional Weapons of Mass Destruction/Civil Support Teams, resulting in a total of 55 teams by the end of FY 2005.
- Joint Strike Fighter
The Conference Report recommends $4.4 billion for the Joint Strike Fighter development program, an increase of $97 million from fiscal year 2004 levels.
- Missile Defense Programs
The Conference Report provides $10 billion for missile defense programs, an increase of $1 billion from fiscal year 2004 levels, and a decrease of $183 million from the budget request.This amount includes $4.6 billion for ground-based midcourse missile defense in support of fielding a national missile defense initial operational capability in the fall of 2004.
For theater missile defense, the Conferees provide $937.6 million for production, modification and continued development of Patriot PAC-3 missiles and the next-generation MEADS system.