WASHINGTON – Today the House Appropriations Committee passed the Defense Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2023. This bill provides critical funding for the Department of Defense.
“As the Republican Leader of the Appropriations Committee, I secured funding that is crucial to defense jobs in and around the metroplex,” said Republican Leader Kay Granger. “With North Texas being home to NAS JRB Fort Worth and mission-critical defense companies, our region plays a crucial role in our national defense. The men and women who serve at Fort Worth’s military base defend the freedoms we as Americans enjoy every day, and we must ensure they have the most effective, cutting-edge aircraft to meet and defeat the threats we face.
“It’s my firm belief that Fort Worth has some of the best manufacturing jobs in the country, and I am honored to represent our world-class workforce in Congress. The work our defense contractors do keeps our military strong and prepared to protect the American people. As I have done since first elected, I will continue to fight for the needs of our metroplex and aim to bring more opportunities to the North Texas economy.
"While House Democrats added provisions that prevented me from supporting the bill in its current form, I look forward to negotiating a bill that provides our military with the resources it needs and funds the many important programs that ensure a strong national defense, including the world’s most advanced fighter – the F-35.”
BACKGROUND
Supports The USS Fort Worth – Congresswoman Granger successfully fought to include language to save the USS Fort Worth from premature decommissioning by the Navy. The USS Forth Worth, commissioned in 2012, is a Littoral Combat Ship currently homeported in San Diego, California.
Supports Texas’ 12th Congressional District Jobs – The bill includes 61 new F-35 aircraft to be built in the Lockheed facility in Fort Worth. The bill also supports key modernization and sustainment efforts that are critical to the success of the program. The F-35 supports over 17 suppliers that represent 49,000 direct and indirect jobs. The program represents an annual economic impact of $9.4 billion.
Investments in Metroplex Defense Technology – Fort Worth is home to the world’s best defense employees and engineers specializing in cutting-edge aircraft. Included in the bill is $657 Million for the development of the Army’s Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) supporting over 5,100 Fort Worth and North Texas employees and another $465 million to fund the Army’s Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft to be built in Fort Worth.