Congressman Rick Allen votes for Defense Appropriations bill

Georgia’s representative from the 12th Congressional District voted in favor of the Defense Appropriations Bill for the upcoming Fiscal Year.

Republican Congressman Rick Allen voted on the bipartisan legislation for the Department of Defense and funds programs for national security, military operations overseas, and Armed Forces health and quality of life services. The bill was filed under H.R. 5293 and passed the House 282-138.

Rep. Allen released the following statement after its passage:

“Strong national security begins with a strong defense.  I was proud to vote in favor of this legislation and was glad to see my colleagues on both sides of the aisle come together on a bill that works for the good of the country.

The Defense Appropriations Bill provides our armed forces with needed resources to ensure military readiness, from a pay raise, to increased funding for cyber capabilities, the future of modern warfare, to funding the global war on terrorism. Voting against this bill was not an option—it is our duty to provide for our nation’s military men and women and their families.

In the wake of Orlando we need to be doing all we can to protect our citizens and our country from all who seek to destroy us and our way of life—that begins with the passage of this legislation. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to act quickly and pass this vital appropriations bill.”

According to the Congressman’s office, the DOD Appropriations Act of FY 2017 does the following:

• Fully funds the authorized 2.1% pay raise for the military, instead of the 1.6% requested by the President
• Maintains prohibitions on transfers of detainees from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, prevents construction of facilities in the U.S., and prohibits closure or transfer of Naval Station Guantanamo Bay
• Provides $58.6 billion for Overseas Contingency Operations Account, including the global war on terrorism
• Increases spending to $992 million above FY16 levels for Cyber Defense, bolstering cyber defensive and offensive capabilities across the Department of Defense and directly affecting Fort Gordon
• Provides $282 million for cancer research, $450 million for medical facility upgrades, $125 million for traumatic brain injury and psychological health research, and $296 million for sexual assault prevention and response
• Prevents the Administration’s proposed troop reductions