Appropriations Committee Approves Fiscal Year 2023 Defense Funding Bill

WASHINGTON — The House Appropriations Committee today approved the fiscal year 2023 Defense bill on a 32-26 vote.

For 2023, the bill provides total funding of $761.681 billion, an increase of $33.207 billion above 2022. It is in line with President Biden’s budget request, a funding level endorsed by the Secretary of Defense. The legislation:

• Provides critical security assistance to Ukraine with resources for training, equipment, weapons, supplies and services, salaries and stipends, and intelligence support to the Ukrainian military and national security forces
• Protects our national security, preserves our domestic advanced manufacturing base to support jobs and economic growth, and invests heavily in research and development with funding recommended by the Secretary of Defense
• Closes the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay and limits United States involvement in Yemen
• Defends democracy and counters China with robust funding to advance a free and open Indo-Pacific
• Supports working families by requiring contractors to pay a $15 minimum wage
• Confronts the climate crisis with $2.5 billion in investments in clean energy and climate adaptation to protect facilities, readiness, and global security
• Addresses violence against women with funding to tackle sexual assault in the military and promote mental health through suicide prevention funds and directs DoD to address extremist ideologies, including white supremacy. The bill includes $479 million to fully implement the recommendations of the Independent Review Commission on Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment. In addition, the bill continues to provide $47 million for the Special Victims’ Counsel program.

“The Fiscal Year 2023 Defense Appropriations bill is a responsible investment in our national security that will keep our nation strong and the American people safe,” said Defense Chair Betty McCollum (D-MN-04). “Democrats are investing in creating good-paying union jobs, ensuring a safe environment for our service members and their families, and taking on the very serious security threats facing our nation and the world, such as ongoing Russian aggression and climate change. As Democrats continue to invest in diplomacy, development, and health, we also scrutinized this year’s budget for inefficiencies and for cuts that could be made to save taxpayer money. As Vladimir Putin continues his brutal, illegal war in Ukraine, this legislation continues to support the Ukrainian people in their fight to defend their democracy. The Subcommittee held a total of 18 hearings, both public and classified, to gather input from the Biden administration as we wrote this legislation which makes strategic investments in our national security needs in order to keep America safe, secure, and strong.”

“With democracy under attack in Ukraine, it is critical that our Department of Defense and intelligence agencies have the resources requested by the Secretary of Defense to support our allies, protect our national security, maintain a strong industrial base to support good paying jobs, and counter rising threats,” Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) said. “Building off the support Congress has delivered to counter Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Defense Appropriations bill honors our soldiers and their families and civilians who support our nation’s military. This includes a strong military pay raise and funding to combat sexual assault in the military as recommended by the Independent Review Commission on Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment. With this bill, we are rising to meet the current challenges and living up to our moral responsibility to support Ukraine and its people and defend global democracy.”

The following amendments to the bill were adopted by the full Committee:

Rep. McCollum – The manager’s amendment makes technical and noncontroversial changes to the bill and report. The amendment was adopted by voice vote.

Rep. Wasserman Schultz – This amendment urges the Department of Defense (DoD) to expand funding opportunities related to better understanding chronic diseases through biorepositories. The amendment was adopted by voice vote.

Rep. Reschenthaler #1 – This amendment prohibits funds for the Wuhan Institute of Virology. The amendment was adopted by voice vote.

Rep. Reschenthaler #2 – This amendment prohibits funds for EcoHealth for research supported by the government of China. The amendment was adopted by voice vote.

Rep. Lee #1 – This amendment repeals the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force. The amendment was adopted by voice vote.

Rep. Lee #2 – This amendment repeals the 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force. The amendment was adopted by voice vote.

A summary of the bill is here. The text of the bill, before the adoption of amendments in full Committee, is here. The bill report, before the adoption of amendments in full Committee, is here. In keeping with the Appropriations Committee’s commitment to transparency, information on Community Project Funding in the bill is here.