Defense Appropriations Bill Passes, Emanuel Votes to Support Pay Raises for Troops

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congressman Rahm Emanuel (D-IL) voted last night to give America’s military personnel an average 4.1 percent pay raise, effective Jan. 1, 2004.  Emanuel voted “aye” on H.R. 2658, The Fiscal Year 2004 Department of Defense Appropriations, legislation funding programs for the Department of Defense (DOD) including research, development, general operation, personnel and procurement of military hardware.

“We have nearly 1.4 million active duty personnel putting their lives on the line every day,” Emanuel said.  “These funds will help develop counterterrorism tactics, aircraft and ship building as well as the latest technology.  All of these factors intersect to keep America, and our armed forces, safer.”

Totaling nearly $400 billion, the House version of FY04 Defense Appropriations bill includes millions of dollars for defense products built businesses based in Illinois:  
Boeing
• $2.9 billion for 42-next generation F/A-18 E/Fs, the upgrade of the primary strike aircraft for the    Navy and Marine Corps
• $2.1 billion for 11 C-17 cargo transport aircraft
• $767.9 million for the AH-64 Apache Longbow attack helicopter, the Army’s upgraded heavy attack helicopter
• $341.9 million in R&D funding for the Navy’s FA-18 G-model combat aircraft with new jamming equipment to neutralize surface-to-air missiles 
 Motorola
• $50 million to maintain and upgrade the Army’s base support communications from analog to digital capability

The legislation also :
• Raises the pay for military personnel 4.1% effective Jan. 1, 2004, as well as targeted pay raises of up to 6.3% for a variety of enlisted personnel and officer grades, and a 2.0% pay increase for civilian Defense Department personnel;
• Increases the basic housing allowance for military members;
• Boosts the Operations and Maintenance account, or the “readiness” account, by $582 million, including training, supply and equipment maintenance;
• Appropriates large increases for Defense Department counterterrorism activities and other programs to fight unconventional threats including $4.6 billion for special operations forces—a 35% increase from current spending; and
• Funds the drug interdiction activities of the U.S. military to $817 million.

“Since September 11, I have been an advocate of reshaping our military to respond to terrorist attacks and other unforeseen circumstances,” Emanuel said.  Last month, Emanuel voted for the Homeland Security Appropriations and Military Construction Appropriations bills for Fiscal Year 2004, which fund anti-terrorism programs and housing improvements for military families.

For the legislation to become law, the Defense Appropriations bill next travels to the Senate, and on to the President for his signature.