{"id":46479,"date":"2022-06-16T20:20:03","date_gmt":"2022-06-16T20:20:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2022\/06\/16\/senators-back-45-billion-boost-in-defense-spending-for-fy23\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T10:52:00","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T10:52:00","slug":"senators-back-45-billion-boost-in-defense-spending-for-fy23","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/congress\/budget\/2022\/06\/16\/senators-back-45-billion-boost-in-defense-spending-for-fy23\/","title":{"rendered":"Senators back $45 billion boost in defense spending for FY23"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Senate Armed Services Committee members added $45 billion to the White House\u2019s defense spending target<\/a> for fiscal 2023 in their annual defense authorization bill, <\/a>unveiled Thursday, setting up a congressional showdown in the coming weeks over total military spending.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The $847 billion top line represents an 8% increase over the FY22 defense budget<\/a> and stands in contrast with the House Democratic appropriators\u2019 plan<\/a>, released earlier in the week, for a smaller spending package in line with President Joe Biden\u2019s request.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But Senate committee members \u2014 on a bipartisan basis \u2014 advanced the more costly plan due to what they see as critical needs and extra financial pressure on military programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis addresses the effects of inflation, which is significant, and provides additional security assistance to Ukraine,\u201d committee Chairman Jack Reed, D-R.I., told reporters at a press briefing. \u201cIt accelerates the production of certain munitions. It provides additional resources for service and combatant command requirements. It authorizes funding for additional military construction projects and facility maintenance.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bill also includes a 4.6% pay raise for troops; offers language requiring all women to register for potential future military drafts; mandates new oversight of civilian casualties from overseas operations; and increases funding for procurement of a host of combat aircraft, naval vessels, armored fighting vehicles and munitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The annual legislation sets several spending and policy priorities, and has passed through Congress for more than 50 years. House Armed Services Committee officials are expected to finalize their draft of the measure next week, with an eye toward negotiating a compromise version between the two chambers by the end of the summer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The top-line spending level could be one of the potential friction points. Reed noted that inflation was the \u201cfirst consideration\u201d in the decision for the large increase in defense spending, but that other issues also played a role, such as additional security assistance to Ukraine and the need to further replenish munitions the U.S. sent to the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Biden administration on Wednesday announced an additional $1 billion in Ukrainian military aid<\/a>, drawing from a $40 billion package Congress passed last month<\/a> that also included funds to backfill the U.S. stocks of Javelin anti-tank and Stinger anti-aircraft missiles sent to the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, Reed said, senators included extra money to fund several items off the services\u2019 unfunded priorities lists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although Republicans indicated they want a 3-5% defense budget increase over the historic 40-year-high inflation rate, Senate Armed Services Committee ranking member James Inhofe, R-Okla., indicated satisfaction with the top line.<\/p>\n\n\n\t