Moran Opposes Spending Bill That Ignores Kansas Priorities
Moran Opposes Spending Bill That Ignores Kansas Priorities
Congressman Jerry Moran yesterday voted against the omnibus spending bill that puts the growth of Fort Riley at risk and fails to include agriculture disaster assistance. The bill under funds the implementation of the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) commitments by $3 billion, providing less than half of what the Department of Defense requested. It also does not include an amendment offered by Moran to aid farmers and ranchers suffering from the effects of natural disasters.
"The needs of Kansans - our military men and women and our farmers and ranchers - were ignored yesterday in the House," Moran said. "This legislation will inhibit the Army's effort to build new brigades, house our soldiers, and construct facilities to train forces and maintain equipment. Our soldiers at Fort Riley, their families and the surrounding communities who have welcomed them deserve better treatment."
In January, Moran asked Democratic leadership to include funding in the spending bill to allow for critically important military construction and quality of life projects to move forward. At risk is more than $300 million in BRAC-related and other military construction that has been authorized for Fort Riley in 2007, including a division headquarters, a combat aviation brigade complex, runway improvements and a health clinic.
This week, Moran offered an amendment to the spending bill to cover agriculture losses incurred in 2005, 2006 or 2007 from natural disasters.
"I am disappointed this spending bill does not include something that is of high priority to me and many of my colleagues," Moran said yesterday in a speech on the House floor. "We are still not at the point in which we are able to bring disaster assistance to a vote for farmers in the Midwest and across the country who are struggling from weather-related losses. As we continue to work on this year's appropriation bills, I encourage my colleagues to look for other opportunities to provide desperately needed aid to our agriculture community."
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