Conference Report on H.R. Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2019
Floor Speech
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Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the fiscal year 2019 Defense Appropriations and Labor-Health and Human Services Appropriations conference report.
First, I would like to take a minute to thank Chairman Frelinghuysen, who has led the effort to return the Appropriations Committee to regular order. He knows too well the crippling impacts of a CR on the Department of Defense, and today he delivers on a promise to ensure our men and women in uniform are provided funding on time.
Personally, I am grateful to the chairman for the many years of friendship. His steady leadership will be greatly missed.
I also want to commend Chairwoman Granger for her good work in getting this bill here today and, certainly, Pete Visclosky, the ranking member, for his work in getting this bill here today, and also Ranking Member Lowey, the full committee ranking member, for her great work.
We are all here today, together, in a rare moment of bipartisanship to fund our military and to fund Labor-Human Services, which hasn't been passed here for some time.
I served on the House Appropriations Committee for many years, and providing for our men and women in uniform is a privilege and one of the most important things that we do.
This conference report provides vital funding for the armed services, including a 2.6 percent pay raise. This bill is an investment in our future superiority on land, air, and sea.
I might point out that, yesterday, Secretary Mattis made comments at VMI that, when he took the helm of the Department, he asked for the strategy, and he was told there was none. Well, thankfully, under General Mattis' leadership, not only does the Department have a clear strategy, but the roadmap to achieve that strategy as well. It requires Congress to do our part, which we are going to do today.
We are in a unique time in history that depends on U.S. leadership throughout the world. A strong U.S. military with our allies creates stability.
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Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, the security of our Nation and the peace of the world depend on a strong U.S. military, and I urge my colleagues to support the conference report.
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