Washington, Sep 27 - U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland voted today for the Department of Defense Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2007 which will fund critical defense needs, including troop protection, operation and maintenance, research and development, and emergency wartime appropriations.

“The legislation we passed today will ensure that our troops have the tools they need to win the war on terror and protect our nation,” Westmoreland said. “It will also help ensure that our troops stay safe by providing funding for important troop protection needs like new improvised explosive device countermeasures. Finally, this legislation will provide the men and women of our armed forces with a well-deserved pay raise.”

Among other things, the conference report to H.R. 5631, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2007, provides the following: 

• Full funding for the 2.2 percent military pay raise;
• $1.9 billion for new improvised explosive device countermeasures to protect our troops on the ground;
• Almost $23 billion to ensure Army and Marine Corps troops are fully equipped with updated and refurbished equipment;
• $9.4 billion for ballistic missile defense;
• $937 million to fight narcoterrorism and fund the Department of Defense’s counter-drug activities; and
• $1.542 million for the Chemical and Biological Defense Program.