Transcripts

Text transcript of 10/23/09 radio actuality.

This is Congressman Ike Skelton.

I am pleased to report that the House of Representatives and the Senate have approved the Fiscal Year 2010 National Defense Authorization Act.

This defense bill is good for our military. And, for Missouri, it is good for the economy and jobs - not just with communities that surround Whiteman Air Force Base and Fort Leonard Wood, but also for many other areas of our state where businesses receive Department of Defense work.

This bill provides more than $188 million for Missouri projects, including new facilities and expansion of Whiteman Air Force Base and substantial military construction funds for Fort Leonard Wood. This construction creates American jobs and generates revenue for families and businesses.

This bill concentrates on our military's critical readiness needs. It also provides funding to address equipment shortages in the National Guard and Reserve. It also increases the size of the military, provides our troops with a 3.4 percent pay raise, and prohibits fee increases on TRICARE inpatient care for one year.

This is a good bill for our troops. It's a good bill for Missouri's economy and national security.

The next step is for the President to sign the bill into law.

This is Congressman Ike Skelton.