PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — Congresswoman Jen Kiggans released a statement after voting in favor of the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024.
This legislation was passed out of the House by a vote of 286 to 134, and provides a total $1.23 trillion in government funding, including for the military, Border Patrol and other services, Kiggans said, in a release.
“For years Washington went on a reckless spending spree, making our national debt skyrocket and hurting working families,” Kiggans said. “That’s why I have made it my mission in Congress to rein in the wasteful spending from previous years while strategically increasing our defense budget and taking care of our servicemembers. Today I am proud to say that this bill delivers on that promise, and I was proud to support it.”
According to Kiggans, the legislation:
- Funds the largest increase (5.2%) in basic military pay in over 20 years.
- Funds 22,000 Border Patrol Agents, which is the highest level ever funded, and provides $125 million for increases to Border Patrol overtime pay authorized by the NDAA.
- Provides a $27 billion increase over the Department of Defense’s FY23 enacted level, and directs that funding to countering China, developing next-generation weapons, and investing in the quality-of-life of our servicemembers.
- Includes $8.7 billion for the childcare and development block grant at the Department of Health and Human Services.
- Includes $305 million for the nursing workforce development programs at the Department of Health and Human Services.
- Fully funds the President’s Fiscal Year 2024 budget request for advance procurement for future Virginia-class submarines.
- Prohibits any taxpayer funding going to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), a group that allegedly had known operatives involved in the Oct. 7 attacks.
- Targets resources to rural communities, including vital telehealth and opioid response resources.
- Claws back $2.6 billion in unused COVID-19 funds.
- Provides $125 million for increases in overtime pay for Border Patrol officers and a 25% increase for border security technology, including mobile surveillance technologies and tunnel detection systems.
- Prioritizes funding to counter China, including $300 million for Taiwan.
- Prohibits the IRS from targeting individuals for exercising their First Amendment rights.
- Ensures that no funds may be used to enforce a COVID vaccine mandate in the military.
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