Defense

The House on Thursday evening rejected two amendments to the 2012 Department of Defense Appropriations Act that would have cut several billion dollars in spending from a bill that would increase spending by $17 billion.

In a 135-290 vote, members rejected an amendment from Rep. Mick Mulvaney (R-S.C.) that would have frozen military spending at FY 2011 levels, which would amount to a $17.2 billion cut from the bill, H.R. 2219.

The House late Thursday afternoon was continuing to take up amendments to the Department of Defense Appropriations Act for FY 2012 and had accepted some of these in voice votes.

The House on Thursday took a step toward limiting U.S. involvement in the ongoing military operations in Libya by blocking aid to Libyan rebels, but did not vote in favor of language that would prohibit the use of U.S. military force against Libya.

Members voted 225-201 in favor of an amendment to the Department of Defense Appropriations Act from Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) that would prohibit funds from being used to furnish military equipment, military training or advice, or other support for military activities in Libya. That amendment was supported by 177 Republicans, but only 48 Democrats.

The House on Thursday afternoon voted to spare Pakistan from proposals that would have cut off $2 billion in aid to that country.

The proposals were offered as amendments to the Department of Defense Appropriations Act by Rep. Ted Poe (R-Texas). Poe, like other members, is highly critical of Pakistan's apparent lack of cooperation in helping the U.S. find terrorist Osama bin Laden.

Republicans and Democrats spoke on Thursday in support of two amendments to the Department of Defense Appropriations Act that would cut off funding for ongoing military action in Libya.

Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) offered the first amendment, which would prohibit any funding in the fiscal 2012 spending bill from being used to provide equipment, training or other support for the operation in Libya.

"Libya did not attack the United States of America," Cole said. "Libya did not attack any member of NATO. Libya has not allowed al Qaeda to operate with impunity out of its territory. Quite simply, however much we detest Mr. Gadhafi and his regime, we have no reason to be at war or confuting military operations in Libya."

House appropriators late Wednesday night issued a stern warning to Pakistan that they are considering cutting off funds to that country in light of the controversy over whether Pakistani officials fully cooperated with the U.S. in the hunt for Osama bin Laden.

Speaking on the House floor, Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-Calif.), the third ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee, warned that he would be studying the circumstances surrounding bin Laden's discovery in the heart of Pakistan, and could introduce language cutting off funds for Pakistan in the foreign operations spending bill.

House Democrats on Wednesday night held a short protest against ongoing military actions in Afghanistan in which they briefly delayed consideration of the Defense Department Appropriations Act, and then proceeded to bring up a series of amendments to that bill to defund various aspects of U.S. operations in Afghanistan.

Several Democrats rose to say they oppose the Obama administration's plan to stay in Afghanistan for years longer. Obama recently announced he would withdraw 10,000 troops by the end of this year, and 20,000 more by 2012.

"Frankly I think he made the wrong decision," Rep. John Garamendi (D-Calif.) said of Obama's decision. He also urged members to support defunding Afghanistan operations.

The House easily killed an amendment offered by Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) that would have stripped $297 million for a new bomber program from the 2012 Pentagon spending bill.

During floor debate Wednesday on the chamber's Pentagon appropriations measure, Welch questioning whether the aircraft initiative is affordable amid America's economic crisis. He also noted other federal agencies’ budgets have been targeted for significant reductions while the Pentagon has been kept “immune.”

The Welch amendment would have taken $297 million in the Defense appropriations bill for research and development on the new bomber aircraft for the Air Force, one of that service’s top hardware priorities, and shifted it to a spending reduction account.

The chamber defeated the amendment 328-92.

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The House on Wednesday evening approved two amendments to the Department of Defense Appropriations Act aimed at making it easier for private contractors to perform jobs now handled by federal workers.

By a close 212-208 vote, members approved language from Rep. Justin Amash (R-Mich.) that would strike language in the bill prohibiting the Defense Department from contracting out commercial functions unless doing so saves $10 million or 10 percent of the cost.

The House on Wednesday afternoon voted to restore full funding for military bands, after the House Appropriations Committee voted in June to limit funding for military musicians.

By voice vote, the House approved an amendment from Rep. John Carter (R-Texas) that eliminates a section of the Department of Defense Appropriations bill that would have limited funding for bands to $200 million. By eliminating that language, DOD is allowed to fund bands up to $320 million, which DOD was planning for FY 2012.