Griffin: Defense Funding Bill Supports Our Military and Prioritizes Safety of Americans
Press Release
Congressman Tim Griffin (AR-02) today issued the following statement after the House passed the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2015 (H.R. 4870):
"Today's bipartisan bill funds essential services and equipment for America's servicemembers to strengthen our national security. It provides our troops with a much-deserved pay increase, supports our military readiness and prioritizes the safety of Americans. It also provides training and outreach for suicide prevention and addresses the problem of sexual assault in the military. In light of President Obama's recent failure to notify Congress before releasing five Taliban leaders from Guantanamo Bay, I also voted to support Congressman Cotton's amendment to this bill, which is a common sense solution to check the president's power and ensure that the terrorists at Gitmo stay at Gitmo."
H.R. 4870 passed the House by a vote of 340-73. The legislation authorizes funding for the Department of Defense and Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) for ongoing war efforts. It provides a total of $490.9 billion in discretionary funding, which is $4.1 billion above the fiscal year 2014 enacted level and $201.8 million above President Obama's request. It includes a 1.8% pay increase for military members and provides $79.4 billion in funding for OCO, which is the same level in the House-passed National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). "The legislation funds critical national security needs, military operations abroad, and health and quality-of-life programs for the men and women of the Armed Forces and their families," according to the House Committee on Appropriations.
Congressman Griffin voted to support Congressman Tom Cotton's (AR-04) amendment to H.R. 4870, which states that none of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to transfer or release any individual detained at United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to the individual's country of origin or to any other foreign country.
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