WASHINGTON \u2014 More than half of Republican lawmakers on the House Armed Services Committee voted against a disaster relief omnibus bill on Friday over concerns that an attached three-month budget extension could hurt military spending.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That group included committee chairman Mac Thornberry, R-Texas, whose home state was hit hard by Hurricane Harvey and will likely benefit the most from the $15 billion in emergency aid it includes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thornberry backed a separate aid package approved by the House earlier this week, but said he would not vote for the new compromise measure because of the potential effects on military finances and planning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cContinuing resolutions do enormous, lasting damage to the American military,\u201d he said in a floor speech before the vote. \u201cWe are witnessing an alarming increase in accidents, growing evidence of a force under stress, and an eroding technological position when compared with our adversaries. Not only does this bill fail to remedy those problems, it makes them worse.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thornberry and other opponents of the measure \u2014 which included Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain, R-Ariz. \u2014 have argued repeatedly that short-term continuing resolutions that extend current funding levels fall well short of military needs for recapitalization and modernization programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Defense leaders have long lamented Congress\u2019 inability to pass full-year military budgets near the start of the new fiscal year, Oct. 1. In testimony before lawmakers in recent months, they say the practice inhibits long-term planning for new initiatives and equipment purchases, thereby driving up costs when those projects resume later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis bill, like other CRs, allows no new starts,\u201d Thornberry said. \u201cThe Pentagon must spend the same money on the same things as last year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut the world is not standing still. In fact, the threats from North Korea and others grow every day. Yet this CR prevents us from responding.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The legislation \u2014 which passed 316-90 despite the objections \u2014 extends funding for federal programs until mid-December and suspends the country\u2019s debt ceiling until then, preventing a partial government shutdown and a federal debt default at the end of this month. Supporters said keeping government operations running uninterrupted superseded the other concerns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
President Donald Trump has already signaled he will sign the measure into law in coming days. The Senate passed the measure 80-17 on Thursday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Of the 34 Republicans on the House defense committee, 18 voted against the measure. Thornberry was also one of only four Texas representatives to oppose the plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n