WASHINGTON, D.C. - Rep. French Hill (AR-02) today released the following statement after the House passed the remaining six appropriations bills and finished FY2024 appropriations.

“Two weeks ago, House Republicans locked in the first overall cut to non-defense spending in almost a decade, keeping the first group of appropriations bills in line with the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) – saving hardworking Americans $2.6 trillion over the next ten years. Today, we passed the second group of bills which cut wasteful spending while strongly funding our national defense.

“We secured increased defense spending and a 5.2% pay raise for our troops, which will directly benefit our brave service members at Little Rock Air Force Base. Further, this year’s budget includes nearly $300 million to formally establish the F-35 Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Pilot Training Center in Fort Smith, which is projected to have up to a $1 billion annual economic impact for Arkansas.

“We also secured other wins, including $3.3 billion in support for Israel, defunding United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for a number of its employees being involved in Hamas’ October 7th terrorist attack in Israel, clawing back $4.3 billion in unneeded COVID-19 funding, providing funding for 22,000 Border Patrol agents which is in line with H.R. 2, and increasing overtime pay for Border Patrol agents.

“The bills we passed today reflect crucial cuts that will lead to a decrease in the budget deficit, which were negotiated almost one year ago. Before the FRA, our budget deficits were projected to be $20.3 trillion over the next ten years. Now that we’ve secured FRA spending levels, deficit projections declined to $18.9 trillion over the next ten years. While there is still much work to be done to address our debt and deficit, the win we achieved today amidst divided government is a step in the right direction.

“As we begin FY25 funding, I urge Speaker Johnson and House leadership to build on this momentum and move our appropriations process along so we can complete our work in a timely manner that reflects how our process is intended to be.”

Further Background:

H. Res. - Further Consolidated Appropriations Act for FY24: This funding includes the following appropriations bills:

Defense
Financial Services and General Government
Legislative Branch
Homeland Security
Labor, Health and Human Services, Education
State and Foreign Operations