A newly released bill reconciling versions of the House and Senate armed services committees seeks $150 billion funding for U.S. defense priorities. The White House was closely consulted on the proposed legislation wherein naval, missile and munition capabilities buildup lead the planned spending on 11 priority areas, according to the House committee’s announcement of the unified bill Sunday.
Aimed overall at military modernization and strengthening national security, the bill recommends investing $34 billion for the expansion of the U.S. Navy fleet and its capabilities. Specific items include budgeting for autonomous surface and subsurface technology systems to build capacity and grow the maritime industrial infrastructure base.
Golden Dome and Other Priorities
The draft legislation also proposes $25 billion to support President Donald Trump’s Golden Dome for America for a layered U.S. missile defense shield with space-based assets for defending against hypersonic threats.
In addition, the House-Senate committee proposal eyes $21 billion to restock U.S. munitions supply through the capacity expansion of the American industrial base, including a ramp-up on domestic production of rare earth and vital ammo materials.
Other priority investments that the bill outlined include $14 billion for expediting warfighter technology innovation at low cost, $13 billion for improving nuclear deterrence and readiness, and $11 billion for expanding military exercises and improving readiness of U.S. forces in the Indo-Pacific region.
Record-Setting Defense Initiatives
The House committee chairman, Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., described the bill’s funding proposal as a “historic investment” for restoring U.S. military capabilities and strengthening national defense. “Our military’s resources have declined over the years, and defense spending as a percentage of GDP has dropped to the lowest levels since before WWII,” the Alabama congressman noted.
The Senate committee head, Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., said the proposed legislation brings a “generational upgrade” to U.S. defense capabilities. “(The bill) is about building the future of American defense, achieving peace through strength, and ultimately deterring war,” the Missouri senator commented.
