U.S. Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks, M.D. (IA-01) issued the following statement on the rule providing consideration for the Fiscal Year 2024 Defense Appropriations Act:
“As a 24-year Army veteran, it is profoundly disappointing that five Republican members are choosing to vote with the Democrats to not fund our military. This latest attempt to hold our governing body hostage is shortsighted. It does not move the ball forward for our country, directly impacts the paychecks of our military and bolsters our adversaries.
“The Fiscal Year 2024 Defense Appropriations bill contains enormous changes for bolstering U.S. national security, countering the Chinese Communist Party, and importantly, a 5.2% pay raise for service members — the largest pay raise in two decades. This critical legislation also ensures that our military is focused on keeping our nation safe against the increasing aggression of our foreign adversaries, and not on the radical-left-wing agenda of the Biden Administration. Yet, after weeks of negotiations to fund the Department of Defense, in addition to the entire government, five Republican members are choosing to vote with the Democrats.
“It’s time to put disagreements aside and advance the work of the American people and fully fund our military.”
