May 4, 2006 – Representative Trent Franks (AZ-02) voted in favor of legislation which increases the size of the military, supplies new equipment to fight the war on terror and provides enhanced benefits for our troops and their families.  H.R. 5122, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007, contains hundreds of different policy and budget initiatives for the Department of Defense.  The legislation passed the House Armed Services Committee by a vote of 60-1 and is scheduled to be considered by the full House of Representatives early next week.

“The noble soldiers that fight to protect our country’s freedoms are by far our most valued national security resource, and I will continue to do all I can to see that they have the best technology and equipment available to keep them safe from harm,” Franks said. 

The legislation is the result of months of congressional hearings, briefings and meetings with defense personnel and analysts.  Major initiatives include a continuing effort to fundamentally change and improve how the Department of Defense procures major weapons systems, funds state-of-the-art equipment designed to help American troops fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as provides compensation and support programs for the men and women of our armed forces.

Highlights of the annual defense authorization bill include:

• An additional $50 billion in supplemental funding to support the war on terror’s operational costs, personnel expenses and procurement of new equipment.
• Increased funding for force protection equipment in support of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, including up-armored Humvees, explosive protection kits and jammers, and new body armor.
• Increases of 30,000 Army and 5,000 Marine Corps active duty personnel.
• A 2.7% across-the-board pay raise for all members of the armed forces.
• Blocks the Department of Defense’s proposed TRICARE Prime and TRICARE Standard fee increases and zeroes out co-pays for generic and formulary mail order prescriptions for military beneficiaries.
• Adds $735 million to the Defense Health Program to restore the funding cut in anticipation of increased beneficiary cost shares.
• Provides an additional $100 million for Army recruiting and retention bonuses.

Trent Franks is the Congressman from the 2nd Congressional District of Arizona.  He is a member of the House Armed Services Committee, the House Judiciary Committee and Vice Chairman of the Constitution Subcommittee.