| June 7, 2005 |
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congresswoman Kay Granger (R--Fort Worth) announced Wednesday that the Defense Appropriations Bill that passed out of full Appropriations Committee Tuesday included significant funding for important North Texas defense programs. The bill is scheduled for a vote in the House next Tuesday.
The bill includes $4.3 billion to procure 24 F/A-22’s and the continued development of the program; $1.6 billion to procure 11 V-22’s and continued development of the program; $4.86 billion for the continued development of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program; and $360.8 million to upgrade 10 AH-1Z attack helicopters and UH-1Z utility helicopters for the Marine Corps. The $360.8 million allocated to upgrade the AH-1Z and the UH-1Z, part of the H-1 Upgrade helicopter program, is $10.8 million above the President’s request for the program.
“I want to commend the chairman, ranking member and other and the committee members for helping secure continued funding for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, F/A-22 Raptor, the V-22 Osprey and the H-1 Upgrade helicopter programs,” said Granger. “These programs are important to help transform our military and to ensure that the U.S. is prepared to the best of her abilities to meet the unforeseeable events of the future. Our country’s best defense is making sure we are strong offensively.
“This is also good news for the thousands of North Texas workers who work on these programs. I will continue to work with committee members throughout the rest of the appropriations process to ensure that these and other important North Texas defense programs receive needed funding,” Granger added.
If passed, the Defense Appropriations Bill would provide $408 billion for needed equipment, training and other resources for United States military forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as funding for important defense programs.
Granger serves on the Appropriations Committee and the powerful defense appropriations subcommittee. She also serves as a majority whip. Granger is the first and only female Republican to serve in the Texas House delegation. Granger represents the 12th District of Texas and is currently serving in her fifth term in Congress.