The House Friday passed its version of the fiscal year 2025 defense appropriations bill, along with two other spending bills. It will next work to reconcile them with Senate spending bills, which are not completed.
“You have to have a place to start, a negotiating position,” House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole (R-Okla.) said, according to Politico.
Most Democrats voted against the bill because of controversial conservative policies, such as forbidding the Pentagon from reimbursing service members traveling for reproductive care and de-funding some climate change policies.
DCIP Funding Cut
The bill includes $50 million for the Defense Community Infrastructure Program, a $50 million cut from the current year’s amount. The Rules Committee did not allow a floor vote on a proposed amendment to restore the program to its current spending level.
Army photo of Cole, center, by Spc. Christian Carrillo