Washington
DC Office
307 Dirksen Senate
Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: 202-224-6441
Fax: 202-224-1724
Wyoming Office
P.O. Box 22201
Casper, WY 82602
307-261-6413
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Contact: Cameron Hardy
202-224-6441 |
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Thomas, 'Support Those Who Defend Our Freedom'
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November 15th, 2005 - Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Craig Thomas and Mike Enzi, both R-Wyo., voted in favor of a bill that authorizes spending for the Department of Defense for military personnel, construction, and national security programs.
“Our troops continue to fight the war on terrorism. It’s their job to defend our freedom. We should continue to improve their military pay and benefits -- but moreover, we need to show our unbridled support for their efforts,” Thomas said. “Our troops and their families deserve the best. This bill delivers,” said Enzi.
The Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act, S. 1042, by a vote of 98-0 which authorizes about $441 billion in budget authority for defense programs in fiscal year 2006 and includes an across the board 3.1 percent pay increase for all military personnel.
The bill authorizes $50 billion in supplemental funds to cover current costs of military operations in Iraq. The bill also authorizes over $109 billion for military pay raises, allowances, bonuses, death benefits, and change of station moves. The defense health program is also authorized full funding under the bill.
Thomas and Enzi also cosponsored an amendment included in the bill that reaffirms U.S. policy to maintain 500 intercontinental ballistic missiles. The amendment was introduced by members of the Senate Missile States Coalition. F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne houses 150 of the missiles. The senators also cosponsored a stand alone bill with similar language and participated in a Missile States Summit meeting in Washington, DC on September 21.
The senators said that the authorization process is the second step in the budget process. Committees of jurisdiction authorize spending for specific programs in their areas during the authorization stage, but it is only during the final appropriations stage that actual dollars are allocated to specific programs.
The House approved its version of the bill, H.R. 1815, on May 25, 2005 by a vote of 390-39.
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| 15th - |
current Press Release |
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