The appropriations bill, which Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) supported and which passed the House on Wednesday, includes critical upgrades in equipment, troop strength, and healthcare for the U.S. Armed Forces.

“Our country’s servicemen and women deserve our utmost support, and I am proud to say this legislation provides them with a much-needed boost,” Smith stated. “For too long, we have been relying on continuing resolutions to fund our military and, as our military leaders have warned, it was sapping our combat readiness. Our troops deserve better, and, when signed into law, this legislation will provide them certainty and proper support.”

The legislation provides a $17 billion increase in base funding above previous FY 2018 levels, and includes the largest pay raise in nine years for our troops—2.6 percent—as well an increase of troop levels, upgrades to benefits for military personnel, and funding for more medical research and sexual assault prevention.

Also, the bill provides $2.3 billion for 15 KC-46 tanker aircraft. Some of these tankers will be going to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, which was tapped by the U.S. Air Force as the first base to receive the new fleet of tankers.

Also included in the legislation passed on Wednesday is:

·         $243.2 billion for training, maintenance, and base operations for military readiness

·         $148 billion for equipment procurement, including $2.3 billion for 15 KC-46A tankers

·         $96.1 billion for research and development of new defense systems and technologies

·         $34.4 billion for the Defense Health Program, including more funding than requested for cancer research, traumatic brain injury and psychological health research, and sexual assault prevention and response