Continuing his fight to better provide for West Virginia's troops and veterans, U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall (D-WV) cast his vote late Wednesday in support of the Conference Report on H.R. 1585, the FY 2008 Defense Authorization Bill, that will strengthen our nation's military readiness and support American service members and their families.

"America has the finest military in the world," said Rahall. "Today we passed a bill that honors the great service and sacrifice made by our brave armed forces and provides them with better protection, better health care, and better pay that they deserve."

Under the Bush Administration, Army readiness has dropped to unprecedented levels, leaving Army National Guard units with only 40 percent of their required equipment. To restore military readiness, the 2008 Defense Authorization Bill authorizes $1 billion for the Strategic Readiness Fund and $980 million for National Guard equipment as well as over $20 billion for additional body and vehicle armor that will protect U.S. troops in harm's way.

"Repeated deployments have placed an enormous emotional and financial strain on our armed forces and their families," said Rahall. "It gives me great pleasure to play a part in finally taking our brave soldiers and their families off the budgetary chopping block."

To this end, the bill includes a 3.5 percent pay raise for all military service members and prohibits increases in TRICARE and pharmacy user fees, saving military families billions of dollars in out-of-pocket costs. Provisions also include the Wounded Warrior Act, which addresses many of the problems identified at Walter Reed Army Medical Center by improving the care of injured soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

"We have a responsibility to protect those who serve," Rahall said. "This legislation will ensure that our troops are taken care of, both on and off of the battlefield."

The 2008 Defense Authorization Bill was approved by a vote of 370-49 and is expected to be approved by the Senate and signed into law.