Tipton, Coffman, Pearce, and Kelly Push for Stand-Alone Defense Appropriations Bills

Press Release

Representatives Scott Tipton (CO-03), Mike Coffman (CO-06), Steve Pearce (NM-02), and Trent Kelly (MS-01) introduced House Resolution 813, expressing the sense of the House that general defense appropriations bills should be considered as stand-alone measures.

"The military should not be used as a bargaining chip in spending bills--it's bad governance, reckless and costly," said Tipton. "The number one job of Congress is to provide for the national defense, which means funding the military and ensuring our troops have the resources necessary to do their jobs and return home safely. This should not hinge on politics or the passage of unrelated items. I am proud to introduce this resolution with Reps. Coffman, Pearce, and Kelly to advocate that general defense spending bills be considered as stand-alone measures, and I urge our colleagues to support this effort."

"Congress has a responsibility to not only the men and women in uniform, but to the American tax-payers as well," said Coffman. "As a Marine Corps combat veteran, the far too common practice of holding our Armed Forces "hostage' in massive spending bills, in some cases which no one reads, is unacceptable and must stop. I join my colleagues Tipton, Pearce, and Kelly in asking that defense funding is considered as "Stand-Alone' measures so that those in uniform can have the necessary tools and training to complete their mission in keeping the homeland safe."

"Congress has a responsibility to ensure our nation's military has the tools and resources it needs to protect our freedoms globally. However, in the last few years, military funding has continuously been held hostage by political games. I joined Congressman Tipton to separate bills funding the military from other funding bills. Doing so, we provide the funding our military needs to defend against ever-evolving threats, without the gamesmanship of recent years," said Pearce. "This is a step in the right direction to hold Congress responsible to our nation's troops."

"Readiness is critical to our national defense," said Kelly. "Our military men and women are counting on us to give them the training and the resources they need to defend our nation. Choosing politics over policy is irresponsible and it places our service members at risk at a time of rising threats across the globe. This legislation makes it a top priority to provide funding for our troops."