Omnibus Increases Military & Border Security Spending
Join us and tell your reps how you feel!
What’s the story?
Whether the increases to military spending and border security in the spending bill passed by Congress is a win or a loss depends on your perspective, but here are some of the highlights of the increases:
Nearly $700 billion in funding for the military, $61 billion over 2017 spending levels and the largest year over year increase in 15 years. An additional $16 billion is promised for fiscal year 2019.
Funding includes $137.7 billion overall for personnel and 2.4 percent pay raise for the troops
$89.2 billion for research and development, an increase $16 billion over fiscal year 2017
$144.3 billion for procurement, an increase of $25.4 billion over fiscal year 2017
$238 billion for operations and maintenance
Full funding of an 1,322,500 active duty personnel and 816,900 reserve personnel -- an overall increase of 9,500 troops
$2 billion increase to the Missile Defense Agency
Includes $641 million in funding for replacement of existing border fencing, plus addition of new fencing. Restricted to use of previously approved technologies, rather than any of the the new, concrete wall proposed by the administration.
$38 million appropriated for border barrier "planning and design"
Full funding for 328 additional Customs and Border Protection officers.
$1.3 billion for border security technology
What do you think?
Are these measures a win or a loss in your opinion? What got included that you wish hadn’t? What got left out that shouldn’t have been?
Tell us in the comments what you think, then use the Take Action button to tell your reps!
— Asha Sanaker
(Photo Credit: U.S. Air Force / Creative Commons)
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