Press Releases

WASHINGTON—Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas) voted today for H.R. 6157, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2019, which boosts funding for the Department of Defense to $674.6 billion.

“I was proud to support this legislation to continue rebuilding the military by fulfilling the funding commitments we made through passage of the National Defense Authorization Act last month,” said Rep. Estes. “This bill funds the largest pay raise for our troops in nine years, increased training and research to help troops address threats of today and the future, and increased health care for our Armed Forces and their families. This bill is critical for our national defense and a win for our region and the Airmen at McConnell Air Force Base by funding new equipment, including 15 KC-46 tankers.”

Following passage of the Defense Appropriations bill in the U.S. House of Representatives, the Senate will now take up the measure. Included in the House’s package:

- $246 billion for increased training, flight hours and maintenance.
- $146 billion for new equipment.
- $144 billion for military personnel, increasing the size of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines,
  and providing a 2.6 percent pay raise for our troops – the largest military pay raise in nine years.
- $92 billion for research and development to modernize our military to meet future threats and
  keep up with rapidly changing technology.
- $34 billion for more health care for troops, military families, and retirees.

More information can be found here.

Ron Estes is a 5th generation Kansan and represents Kansas’ 4th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. He serves on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, and the House Committee on Homeland Security.