The Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday approved a package of 11 appropriations bills for fiscal year 2025, including a $852.2 billion defense spending measure.
The committee voted 28-0 to pass the FY 2025 defense appropriations bill, which reflects a 3.3 percent increase from the enacted FY 2024 level.
The proposed defense legislation includes a 4.5 percent pay increase for warfighters and fully funds the Future Long Range Assault Aircraft program, precision fires and next-generation counter-small unmanned aerial system missile development efforts.
The measure supports the continued development of the B-21 Raider and Sentinel programs and includes $37 billion for the construction of seven battle force ships and $1.05 billion in funding for eight additional C-130J planes for the Air National Guard.
The bill provides $500 million above the president’s budget request for Defense Product Act investments in the defense industrial base, including hypersonics, microelectronics and critical chemicals, and $252 million above the requested budget for a nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missile program, also known as SLCM-N.
“This bipartisan bill builds on our efforts in the National Security Supplemental to strengthen our defenses in key regions, deter conflict, promote stability, and ultimately, keep our nation safe—with new investments to ensure our military remains the best in the world while supporting our servicemembers and standing with our allies,” said Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee.
In June, the House Appropriations Committee voted 34-25 to pass a $833 billion FY 2025 defense spending bill.
