Late in the final week of July, Senate Democrats introduced a new defense spending package that could significantly expedite the White House’s military spending plans across fiscal 2023. The new plan is worth about $792 billion.
It has only been a month since House Democrats expressed support for the original $761 billion defense spending plan for 2023. The updated plan also includes a 4.6 percent pay raise for US military personnel, as well as $1.4 billion aimed at expanding the industrial base capacity, and another $2.2 billion for accelerating the current development for new capabilities in space.
Senate officials also reported the measure does include $4.7 billion intended for upgrading Defense Department infrastructure equipment. Of that proportion, $680 million is supposed to go towards shipyard enhancement and another $1.8 billion aimed at “modernizing our nation’s critical test and evaluation infrastructure for emerging technologies.”
Finally, the new Senate plan also includes an important $53 billion to address skyrocketing inflation. Specifically, the plan states this is intended for “for acquisition programs, goods and services, and higher compensation costs.”
According to Senate Appropriations Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., “This bill modernizes our armed forces to address the evolving threats of the 21st Century, ensuring the Defense Department is able to compete with China and other adversaries across the globe.”
Leahy also notes that they have added funds to the bill to help deal with the consequences of inflation, a complication that has impacted various government programs—both defense and non-defense.
At the end of the day, Senate Appropriations Committee defense panel chair Sen. Jon Tester D-Mont. summarizes, “This legislation will keep America safe by giving our troops a well-earned pay raise, ensuring our servicemen and women are well-trained and well-equipped with the most up-to-date technology and shifting resources toward programs that’ll maintain our fighting edge over adversaries like China and Russia.”
