OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Further Continuing Appropriations, Fiscal Year 2007

Date: Jan. 31, 2007
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Defense


FURTHER CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS, FISCAL YEAR 2007

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Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss the funding recommendations for accounts under the jurisdiction of the Defense Subcommittee.

The House approved the conference report on the Defense Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2007 on September 26th, 2006 by a vote of 394 to 22, and the President signed the bill into law on September 29th. However, several important accounts that were previously within the jurisdiction of the Subcommittee on Military Quality of Life have been transferred back to the Defense Subcommittee, and therefore are addressed in this continuing resolution.

Two of the most important of these are the Basic Allowance of Housing for our active duty members of the military, and the Defense Health Program.

I am pleased this continuing resolution provides the minimum funding level necessary for both these activities. This legislation provides an increase of $500 million for Basic Allowance for House above the fiscal year 2006 enacted level, and an increase of $1.2 billion for the Defense Health Program.

However, we need to recognize that both programs will need additional funds during the rest of this fiscal year. Rates for Basic Allowance for Housing were increased late last year following the normal survey of market housing rates. This has created a shortfall of $1.4 billion.

In addition, due to inflationary increases in health care costs and an Administration proposal for an increase in insurance co-payments that was not approved by the Congress, the Defense Health Program faces an additional shortfall of at least $700 million.

We must address these funding shortfalls later this year. Our highest priority in the Defense budget should be for the well-being of our military personnel, and I know my Subcommittee chairman shares my concerns. This continuing resolution is just a first step toward meeting that responsibility in fiscal year 2007.

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