Senate Passes FY 2010 Defense Appropriations Bill

The Senate says the bill includes a number of other provisions that are necessary to meet obligations and prevent crucial programs from lapsing.

U.S. Senate Photo courtesy: ourvoice.legion.org

(WASHINGTON D.C.) - The U.S. Senate today approved the Fiscal Year 2010 Defense Appropriations bill by a vote of 88 to 10. The bill is identical to the legislation that passed the House of Representatives on December 16th, and will now go to the President for his expected signature.

The Fiscal Year 2010 Defense Appropriations Bill continues to put troops first, preparing them for whatever emergencies may arise, providing them with first class weapons and equipment, and ensuring that they and their families are well taken care of.

The bill makes critical investments in the health, well-being and readiness of our armed forces; addressing issues raised by service members, their families, and Department of Defense officials in testimony before Congress, and discovered through visits to military bases across the United States and overseas.

This bill also includes funding for Overseas Contingency Operations in Afghanistan and Iraq for the upcoming fiscal year; providing $128.3 billion to support current operations and to meet the needs of our troops in the field and their families here at home. The bill does not address the President's new Afghanistan security strategy because the Administration has yet to request any funding for that initiative.

The bill also includes a number of other provisions that are necessary to meet our obligations and prevent crucial programs from lapsing.

A summary and the conference agreement text are below:

Bill Text

Bill Summary

Source: News release from U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations