WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, released the following statement today after Democrats blocked consideration of the FY2017 Defense Appropriations Act. This is the second time Democrats have refused to even debate the measure, which was unanimously reported by the full Appropriations Committee in May.

“Every member of the Appropriations Committee supported this bill, and Democrats have no excuse for standing in the way of it now,” Blunt said. “We are facing more threats than ever before, yet Democrats are putting their own political agenda ahead of our national security. This bill prioritizes investments that will ensure we maintain the most well-trained, well-equipped fighting force in the world, and fulfills our commitments to our troops and their families. Our men and women in uniform put their lives on the line to keep us safe, and we owe it to them to provide the resources they need to carry out their mission. I’m incredibly disappointed that Democrats failed to meet that responsibility today.”

The defense appropriations bill prioritizes programs at Whiteman, Rosecrans, Fort Leonard Wood, Lake City Army Ammunition Plant, and Missouri National Guard installations across the state that are critical to maintaining our defense capabilities. The bill responsibly supports our defense needs by recommending more than 450 specific budget cuts totaling $15.1 billion, and reinvesting those funds to support unfunded requirements identified by the military branches, as well as readiness and military modernization priorities.

Following Are the Missouri Priorities Democrats Blocked in the FY2017 Defense Appropriations Bill:

Super Hornets – The bill provides funding for 14 Super Hornets manufactured in St. Louis, Mo. to meet the U.S. Navy’s tactical aviation shortfalls.

C-130 Aircraft – Rosecrans Air National Guard Base in St. Joseph, Mo. is the nation’s premier Air Guard training center for Advanced Airlift Tactical Training. The bill provides funding for additional C-130 aircraft, and for C-130 modernization to meet Air National Guard intra-theater airlift mobility requirements.

Tomahawk Missile Systems – The bill provides $236.1 million for Tomahawk missile systems to meet our nation’s minimum sustainment rate needs for long-range, all-weather subsonic cruise missile capabilities.

Research Investments – The bill provides $2.3 billion in research funding for the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Department of Defense. That funding will support research and development initiatives at the University of Missouri, and among defense industry leaders across the state. The bill also provides increased funding to continue groundbreaking medical research, which will save lives, reduce disability, and decrease the economic burden of traumatic injury.