Congressman John Kline (R-Minn.) joined a bipartisan effort in the House of Representatives to pass the National Defense Authorization Act, legislation which serves as the annual budgetary and policy blueprint for the national security activities of the Departments of Defense and Energy.

The national defense bill will improve military health care, upgrade living conditions, and support the Wounded Warriors legislation that seeks to ensure that our wounded troops do not fall through the cracks that were so evident at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.  The legislation also provides for increases of 13,000 Army and 9,000 Marine Corps active duty personnel, a 3.5-percent pay raise for all members of the Armed Forces in 2008, and guaranteed pay raises in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

"I was pleased to support the initiatives that promote the welfare of our troops in harm's way," Kline said.  "Increasing the size of our military will help ease the burden of multiple deployments and help prevent overuse of our National Guard and Reserves."

Kline was disappointed that the defense bill cuts $764 million in funding for our nation's missile defense system.  The legislation also cuts $867 million from the Army's modernization program, cutting more in one year than in the last three years combined. 

When the House Armed Services Committee scrutinized the defense bill, Kline introduced an amendment that would approve a "clean" emergency troops funding bill and prevent Congress from cutting off or restricting funding for deployed troops. The Armed Services Committee chairman used a procedural tactic to offer a handwritten amendment to deny members a vote on Kline's amendment.

"I am disappointed by the inability of the Armed Services Committee to perform its primary function - approving funding for our troops,"  Kline said.