“As we saw last weekend in Orlando, the world remains a dangerous place and America must be prepared to fight back against radical Islam, and others who would do us harm, with America’s full might and force,” said U.S. Congressman Kevin Brady.
The U.S. House of Representatives today approved two measures funding the U.S. national defense and countering the rise of terrorism. The bills support strong military readiness to defeat terrorism, new tools to stop terrorist recruitment and better coordination with local law enforcement.
“As we saw last weekend in Orlando, the world remains a dangerous place and America must be prepared to fight back against radical Islam, and others who would do us harm, with America’s full might and force,” said U.S. Congressman Kevin Brady.
“Today I and my House colleagues took another strong stand for our men and women in uniform and against terrorism by providing our military and our local law enforcement with the tools they need to deter or defeat those who would do us harm. When it comes to backing our military and law enforcement in our fight against those who would attempt to destroy our way of life, my vote is always yes.”
Background: The Countering Terrorist Radicalization Act is comprised of three strong counterterrorism bills: H.R. 4401, the ALERT Act of 2016; H.R. 4820, the Combating Terrorist Recruitment Act of 2016 and H.R. 4407, the Counterterrorism Advisory Board Act of 2016. All three had previously passed the House, but languished in the Senate. These bills are designed to amplify and coordinate with local law enforcement efforts to root out terrorists in our communities, stop terrorist recruitment and put a Counterterrorism Advisory Board in place to coordinate and integrate Homeland Security intelligence, activities and policy.
The FY2017 Department of Defense Appropriations Act (H.R. 5293) supports strong military readiness, raises troop pay 2.1% and funds military operations to defeat – not contain – terrorists.
The $575 billion defense spending bill rejects the Obama White House’s reductions in troop strength by funding an additional 28,715 active forces and 25,000 Selected Reserve forces as well as:
• $120.8 billion for weapons, platforms, and resources necessary for military operations.
o Including 72 UH-60 Blackhawks, 27 CH-57 Chinooks, 85 Patriot missiles, 16 F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, 74 F-35s, 15 Navy ships
• $209.2 billion for operations and maintenance, with additional funding to increase readiness, restoration and modernization, battle training, flight time, and depot maintenance.
• Supports our overseas operations to combat Islamic extremists: Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) assets; and the Counterterrorism Partnerships Fund
• Includes assistance for Jordan, Israel, Iraq, Kurdish forces, and Counter-ISIL programs.
o $332 million for the Israeli Cooperative Programs, $292 million above the request to support the missile defense programs
• Enhances our allies’ deterrence against Russian aggression with the European Reassurance Initiative
• Critical funding to research traumatic brain injury, prevent sexual assault, and protect service members, DOD civilians, and their families from the Zika epidemic.
• A prohibition on transfers of detainees from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, prevents construction of facilities in the U.S., and prohibits closure or transfer of Naval Station Guantanamo Bay.
