Appropriations Subcommittee Approves Fiscal Year 2022 Defense Funding Bill

The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense today approved by voice vote its fiscal year 2022 funding bill.

For 2022, the bill provides total funding of $705.939 billion, an increase of $9.978 billion above 2021. This modest increase is in line with President Biden's budget request and has been endorsed by the Secretary of Defense. In total, the bill provides for $706.453 billion in discretionary and mandatory funding.

The legislation:

• Protects our national security, preserves our domestic advanced manufacturing base to support jobs and economic growth, and invests heavily in research and development with funding recommended by the Secretary of Defense
• Closes the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, eliminates the Overseas Contingency Operations budget gimmick, and limits United States involvement in Yemen
• Promotes democracy by countering China with strong funding to protect a free and open Indo-Pacific
• Provides for the transport and safe passage of Afghans who have provided faithful and valuable service to the United States and who are under serious threat
• Supports working families by requiring contractors to pay a $15 minimum wage
• Confronts the climate crisis with historic investments for clean energy and climate adaptation to protect facilities, readiness, and global security
• Addresses gender-based violence with funding to tackle sexual assault in the military and directs DoD to address extremist ideologies, including white supremacy.

The bill next heads to the full Committee for markup.

"Democrats have landed on a responsible funding level for the Department of Defense that maintains a strong national security posture today, while making important investments in modernization that will make us even stronger in the years to come," said Defense Appropriations Chair Betty McCollum (D-MN-04). "I believe that America's security is not defined solely by the programs funded in the Defense bill. The investments we make on health care, education, and infrastructure here at home, as well as the diplomatic and development initiatives put forward by the State Department will support the work we have done in the Defense bill to ensure America remains safe and secure for future generations."

"The Defense Appropriations bill provides resources requested by the Secretary of Defense to protect our national security, maintain a strong industrial base to support good paying jobs, and counter the rising threats from our adversaries, including China," Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) said. "As it protects our nation, it also honors the soldiers and civilians who serve and support our nation's military by providing for them and their families. This includes strong funding to combat sexual assault in the military, a serious and pervasive problem that for too long has been overlooked by the Pentagon."

A summary of the bill is here. The text of the bill is here. In keeping with the Appropriations Committee's commitment to transparency, information on Community Project Funding in the bill is here.