In Appropriations Markup, Rep. Susie Lee Secures Funding to Support Nevada Servicemembers

WASHINGTON – Today, Rep. Susie Lee, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, voted to pass the fiscal year 2023 Defense appropriations bill out of the full Appropriations Committee. The bill includes multiple provisions that Rep. Lee has pushed for, including report language that directs the Secretary of Defense to review existing child care fee assistance programs.

"When I've visited our Nevada military bases, I've heard from families about the barriers they've encountered when trying to access child care," said Rep. Susie Lee. "Our military families, particularly at Creech, have faced long waitlists and child care facilities that don't accommodate hours worked by our servicemembers. I am proud to have secured language in this bill that will require the Secretary of Defense to review existing child care fee assistance programs so we can better support military families. This bill also includes a military pay raise to ensure our troops are paid fairly for their service, robust funding for suicide prevention programs, enhanced support for Ukrainians fighting against Putin's unjust invasion, and more."

The Defense funding bill:

• Includes language directing the Secretary of Defense to review existing child care fee assistance programs to ensure they will meet the needs of military families with children. Rep. Lee advocated for this after hearing of the challenges faced by military families in Nevada, particularly at Creech, who face, as included in the report language, "long waitlists, lengthy commutes, irregular hours, budget constraints, insufficient open houses, and prohibitive expenses."
• Provides funding for a 4.6 percent military pay raise. This pay increase will help support servicemembers across Nevada struggling with the spiking cost of living.
• Provides funding to promote mental health through suicide prevention funds. Rep. Lee has been a tireless advocate for mental health for veterans and active duty servicemembers, having introduced the VA Zero Suicide Demonstration Project Act. The Defense appropriations bill provides $193 million for suicide prevention programs, $22 million above the FY 2022 level.
• Provides funding for Israel's national security, including $200 million to fully support the Iron Dome, David's Sling, and Arrow, all of which protect Israel from national security threats.
• Addresses violence against women with funding to tackle sexual assault in the military. The bill includes $479 million to fully implement the recommendations of the Independent Review Commission on Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment. In addition, the bill continues to provide $47 million for the Special Victims' Counsel program.
• Provides funding for traumatic brain injury and psychological health research. The bill includes $175 million for the peer-reviewed psychological health and traumatic brain injury research program. This funding will go to support servicemembers who have sustained brain damage during their service, with an eye to improving their mental health.
• Provides critical security assistance to Ukraine with resources for training, equipment, weapons, supplies and services, salaries and stipends, and intelligence support to the Ukrainian military and national security forces.
• Protects our national security, preserves our domestic advanced manufacturing base to support jobs and economic growth, and invests heavily in research and development with funding recommended by the Secretary of Defense.
• Defends democracy and counters China with robust funding to advance a free and open Indo-Pacific.
• Supports working families by requiring contractors to pay a $15 minimum wage.
• Confronts the climate crisis with $2.5 billion in investments in clean energy and climate adaptation to protect facilities, readiness, and global security.

The following amendments to the bill were adopted by the full Committee:

Rep. McCollum – The manager's amendment makes technical and noncontroversial changes to the bill and report. The amendment was adopted by voice vote.

Rep. Wasserman Schultz – This amendment urges the Department of Defense (DoD) to expand funding opportunities related to better understanding chronic diseases through biorepositories. The amendment was adopted by voice vote.

Rep. Reschenthaler #1 – This amendment prohibits funds for the Wuhan Institute of Virology. The amendment was adopted by voice vote.

Rep. Reschenthaler #2 – This amendment prohibits funds for EcoHealth for research supported by the government of China. The amendment was adopted by voice vote.

Rep. Lee (CA) #1 – This amendment repeals the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force. The amendment was adopted by voice vote.

Rep. Lee (CA) #2 – This amendment repeals the 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force. The amendment was adopted by voice vote.

A summary of the bill is here. The text of the bill, before the adoption of amendments in full Committee, is here. The bill report, before the adoption of amendments in full Committee, is here. In keeping with the Appropriations Committee's commitment to transparency, information on Community Project Funding in the bill is here.

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