NW Riverside News

Today, the House of Representatives approved the Fiscal Year 2025 Defense Appropriations Bill with a vote of 217 to 198. The bill was introduced by Defense Subcommittee Chairman Ken Calvert (CA-41).

“I am proud of this year’s defense appropriations bill, which adheres to the fiscal constraints of the Fiscal Responsibility Act while providing a strong military to defend America, our allies, and partners,” said Rep. Calvert. “As Chairman of the Defense Subcommittee, the FY25 bill continues my focus on deterring China’s aggression with strategic investments in the Pacific, promoting innovation and modernization, optimizing the Pentagon’s civilian workforce, increasing the Department’s role in countering the flow of fentanyl into the U.S., and supporting our close ally, Israel. There’s no greater responsibility than supporting our servicemembers and their families, which is why the bill includes a 4.5% pay raise for all military personnel, plus $2.5 billion towards an additional 15% pay raise for junior enlisted servicemembers. This bill procures where we can, trains where we must, and invests in capabilities that will make our adversaries wake up every day and say, ‘today is not the day to provoke the United States of America.’”