"Washington, DC – House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton (D-MO) expressed his support for the Fiscal Year 2008 Budget Resolution and praised the House Budget Committee’s commitment to meeting the needs of our national defense.    

“Earlier this year, the House Armed Services Committee asked the House Budget Committee to fund national defense at the level requested by the President in his FY 2008 budget proposal.  The Budget Resolution provides $507 billion for national defense and another $145 billion for overseas deployments and other activities, which mirrors the Congressional Budget Office’s re-estimate of the President’s request.  While these totals are at most just sufficient to address the pressing needs of the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy, I am pleased that the Budget Resolution reflects our recommendation.

            Taking care of the people who protect our country is a critical component of meeting our national defense requirements.  The Budget Resolution takes care of people by rejecting increases in TRICARE fees for military personnel under age 65 and by providing funds to increase military pay and improve military benefits.  These are meaningful benefits for military personnel and their families, but they are also important tools to help our country recruit and retain highly qualified service members in our Armed Forces. I also commend the Committee’s Resolution for its effort to meet the needs of our wounded warriors by supporting the implementation of the future recommendations of the Walter Reed Commission.    

By reordering priorities, the Budget Resolution also ensures that sufficient funds will be available for cooperative threat reduction and nuclear non-proliferation programs.  Although investment in these programs has been shortchanged in the past, these programs have a significant impact on our efforts to reduce the risks associated with terrorism and the spread of weapons of mass destruction.   

            The approval of a Budget Resolution is a key step in our efforts to restore order to the budget process.  I am pleased with the defense portions of this resolution and am proud to support it.  I look forward to working with my colleagues as the process moves forward,” said Skelton.

###