Rep. Loudermilk (R-GA) issued the following statement after voting for the Make America Secure Appropriations Act to fund our military and secure our borders:
“The predominant responsibility of the federal government is our national defense; however, the drastic cuts made to our armed forces over the past several years has severely impacted the readiness of the men and women in uniform, and their equipment. The Make America Secure Appropriations Act restores critical funding to our military and gives a well-deserved pay raise to our troops. The bill also includes funding to secure our southern border and resources to implement major reforms to the Veterans Administration to improve services for our veterans.”
Background
This bill combines four appropriations bills for fiscal year 2018, and an amendment to fully fund the border wall:
Includes a total of $88.8 billion, which is $6 billion above the FY17 enacted level
Provides funds for housing, education facilities, and medical facilities for our military and funds the Guard, Reserve, and the NATO Security Investment Program (NSIP), VA Medical care
Provides funding for digital scanning for disability claims
Keeps Guantanamo open and prohibits funding for transferring detainees
Provides $13.9 billion (an increase of $976 million) for DOE’s nuclear weapons security programs
Includes language to block enforcement of the abusive Waters of the U.S. Rule, and re-asserts private property rights for members of our agricultural community by reigning back the regulatory overreach of the Clean Water Act
Border Security/Wall Funding
Funds the President’s request of $1.57 billion to build a wall on the southern U.S. border
