Knowing your interest in defense and national security issues, I wanted to let you know that I voted in favor of House passage of H.R. 3326, the fiscal year 2010 Department of Defense appropriations bill. I believe Congress has no higher duty than equipping our men and women in uniform with the resources they need to be successful in their missions. And we must take any and all appropriate steps to provide for their health and well being during and after their service, and to ensure that the military in which they serve remains the finest in the world. I am disappointed that the bill significantly cuts funding for missile defense. At a time where North Korea and Iran are racing to develop nuclear weapons we should be working to improve our own defense technology. However, while not perfect, this legislation reflects a strong commitment to our national defense and to our troops.

Importantly, the Defense bill rejects the President’s request for $100 million to transfer suspected terrorists held at Guantanamo Bay to the United States. Instead, it requires the Administration to submit a plan detailing how transferring suspected terrorists to our homeland would not jeopardize the safety of our communities and military personnel.

By way of background, H.R. 3326 provides $104.4 billion to fund our nation’s ongoing military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. It provides for a 3.4 percent military pay raise, which is a 0.5 percent increase over the President’s request. Further, it contains $29.9 billion in defense health programs to provide care for the U.S. military and their families, including $500 million for traumatic brain injury and psychological health treatment, and $1.2 billion for medical care for active duty forces and mobilized Reserve troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and their families. It also provides substantial funding for vital weapons systems including Global Hawk (stationed at Beale AFB in Northern California), a much-needed new Air Force refueling tanker, and ten new Navy ships.

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