HYDE-SMITH VOTES TO ADVANCE FY24 DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS BILL FOR SENATE CONSIDERATION
Senate Appropriations Committee Approves Defense Spending Bill with Support for Military Work in Mississippi
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) today supported committee passage of a defense spending measure that will give the U.S. Department of Defense resources to protect the nation beyond what was recommended in the President’s budget request to Congress.
Hyde-Smith serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee that approved the FY2024 Defense Appropriations Bill on a 27-1 vote. The bill provides $831 billion, $5.1 billion over the President’s budget, to meet U.S. national security needs, including servicemember support, procurement, and cutting-edge technologies—some of which are developed in Mississippi.
“Existing and growing threats to our national security require us to remain vigilant and make the investments necessary to protect our nation and its interests around the world. This bill takes significant steps to meet those challenges,” said Hyde-Smith, who worked to secure funding and support for national defense activities conducted in Mississippi.
“I’m pleased we’ve crafted a bill that continues to support the national defense activities carried out in Mississippi, including research, development, and both ship and aircraft manufacturing. This work supports U.S. military force structure and readiness needs, including needed investment in our servicemembers and their families to strengthen recruitment and retention” the Senator said.
The following are FY2024 Defense Appropriations Bill highlights for Mississippi:
Navy Shipbuilding – $33.0 billion overall, the largest Navy shipbuilding account ever to support the procurement of eight battle force ships, including:
• $250 million to increase funding to $500 million for the Marine Corps #1 unfunded priority, LPD-33
• $1.2 billion in advanced procurement for an additional DDG-51 in FY2025
• $72 million for Auxiliary Personnel Lighter (APL)
Army Procurement
• $8.0 million for Family of All Terrain Cranes (FOTAC) Type 1
• $155 million for Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Vehicle Modernization
Civil Air Patrol
• $34 million for Civil Air Patrol Aircraft and Vehicle Procurement
Research – Work involving Mississippi universities and defense firms as part of Defense Department modernization initiatives
• $25 million for Advanced Composite Shaft Design
• $15 million for Rapid Advanced Deposition
• $10 million for Multi-functional Protective Materials
• $6 million for Weapon Terminal Effects in Extreme Temperatures
• $5.5 million for Cybersecurity for Autonomous Ground Vehicles
• $3 million for Autonomous Surface & Underwater Dual-Modality Vehicles
• $3 million for Rapid Applied Materials and Process Development
The overall bill fully funds the 5.2 percent pay raise for servicemembers, while providing $29.6 billion for housing, $8.4 billion for subsistence, and increased funding to support defense communities and military facility infrastructure.
In addition to passing the FY2024 Defense Appropriations Bill, the Senate Appropriations Committee also approved three additional measures on Thursday. These actions mean the committee has approved all 12 annual funding bills for Senate consideration. The start of the federal fiscal year is Oct. 1.
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