Washington, D.C.  -  The House Appropriations Committee voted tonight to add $400 million in funding to the wartime supplemental for the Army’s Abrams tank upgrades and overhauls, Congressman Mike Rogers said this evening.

Rogers said the funding, which is critical for helping keep the Army’s supply chain for Abrams tanks in operation, is a good first step for helping ensure U.S. troops have some of the best equipment available. Rogers said the committee budgeted $300 million for Abrams M1A2 SEP upgrades, and $100 million for Abrams M1A1 AIM overhauls. The bill will now be sent to the House for a vote.

“The addition of these funds clearly demonstrates the strong support for the Abrams in Congress,” Rogers said. “We still have several steps to go in the process, and funding levels could change again, but we’re definitely moving in the right direction.”

Rogers said last week the $72 billion war supplemental was submitted to Congress without funding for the Abrams tanks. General Dynamics, which overhauls the Abrams at facilities in Calhoun County and at the Anniston Army Depot, said at the time the lack of funding could halt Abrams production.

In a letter to Appropriations Chairman Jerry Lewis (R-CA) last week, Rogers said the lack of Abrams funding could harm military readiness. “The lack of tank modernization funding will directly impact the readiness of United States forces deploying and redeploying to Iraq by sending our forces into battle without critical warfighting protections and capabilities,” he wrote.

Rogers emphasized funding in the bill was not yet final. He said the full House and Senate must also vote on the legislation separately, and the bill must also pass a joint Conference Committee. Afterwards, both chambers would vote on the legislation again. 

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