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(Washington D.C.)- The House of Representatives approved a $636 billion defense funding bill today. The House passed the measure on a vote of 400 to 30.
Among its many provisions, the House-passed bill contained $613 million for the Army’s Stryker armored vehicle, an increase of $225 million above the Administration’s request. The House increased the funding level to allow the Army to purchase additional Stryker vehicles, although the legislation did not specify how many additional vehicles the Army should buy.
“Our troops in the field deserve the best equipment we can possibly provide for them. The Stryker combines high mobility and proven battlefield toughness,” said Rep. Levin, “The additional funding for Strykers in the House bill will help keep our soldiers safe.”
The 20-ton Stryker is a versatile, eight-wheeled armored vehicle that was first introduced to combat operations in Iraq in 2003. The Stryker has been a standout success in Iraq, and a Stryker brigade was recently dispatched to Afghanistan where it will confront a much different combat environment on that country’s rugged and mountainous terrain.
The ten different variants of the Stryker are designed and built by General Dynamics Lands Systems, which is based in Sterling Heights, Michigan. The Stryker program supports thousands of jobs in Michigan at General Dynamics and the 189 suppliers of the Stryker program.
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