US Reps. Wagner, Budzinski both laud new House defense bill

Two St. Louis-area D.C. lawmakers, one from each side of the aisle (and each side of the Mississippi), have taken to praising the national defense measures recently passed by the U.S. House.

U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner, R-Town and Country, voted for the bill and pointed to three sections of the bill, known as the National Defense Authorization Act, that were most beneficial.

Wagner lauded the 14.5% raise earmarked for junior enlisted members; the increased support for the U.S. Border Patrol, at both our ground and maritime borders; and of local importance, the inclusion of $2.4 billion for 24 F-15EX aircraft that are built by Boeing in Missouri.

“With dictators and other bad actors seeking to destabilize our world and very way of life, a strong America is critically important to deter and defend against our enemies,” Wagner said in a statement.

U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski, D-Springfield, also found three aspects of the House defense bill that she strongly supported, including the allocation of $3 billion to remove and replace wireless internet equipment from companies associated with the Chinese Communist Party.

Budzinski, who represents parts of the Metro East area, also highlighted two sections of the legislation that are of direct local interest:

The legislation allocates $280 million to support regional high-tech hubs, the Department of Commerce's Regional Tech Hubs Program, which she called “a major win” for the University of Illinois.

The bill also requires a study to examine the feasibility of requiring all boots worn by U.S. service members to be made in America, a benefit to companies such as the Belleville Shoe Manufacturing Co.

Budzinski, who also applauded the pay raise for junior enlisted members, said the bill “represents an important step forward in addressing critical issues that impact our national security and our local community.”