Senate Passes Defense Funding Measures and Temporary Funding for other Federal Agencies

Press Release

Senate Passes Defense Funding Measures and Temporary Funding for other Federal Agencies

-Defense Funding Included for Important South Dakota Projects -

Senator John Thune today announced that the Senate has approved legislation to fund the Departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and Homeland Security for the entirety of Fiscal Year 2009, which begins on October 1st. In addition, the measure ensures that all other government agencies are funded through a six month continuing resolution through March 1, 2009.
"While this stopgap funding measure ensures that non-defense related agencies will receive six months of funding to allow Congress additional time to ultimately pass the remaining appropriation measures next year, it is tremendously disappointing that Democrat leaders have failed to complete action on each of the appropriation bills as required by law.
"The one silver lining in this funding measure is the fact that due to Republican leadership and the growing frustration from the American public, we succeeded in ending the moratorium on offshore oil and gas drilling. This is a big step as we work to become more energy independent and reduce our nation's dangerous dependence on imported oil," said Thune.
This legislation includes $46.9 billion for veterans benefits and $41 billion for veterans health care.
This legislation also includes a number of important defense related projects for South Dakota. As part of the legislation passed, $60.8 million in military construction projects were allocated for South Dakota, including projects for Ellsworth Air Force Base and Camp Rapid in Rapid City, and projects for Joe Foss Field in Sioux Falls.

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