PRYOR, SNYDER APPOINTED TO DEFENSE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE WASHINGTON, D.C. - United States Senator Mark Pryor and Representative Vic Snyder have been appointed to serve on the joint Senate-House conference committee on authorization of the nation's $400.5 billion defense budget for fiscal year 2004.
"There are a several differences between the two versions of the defense authorization bill that are important to our national security, military personnel and veterans and must be reconciled." Senator Pryor said. "As conferees, Representative Snyder and I will be in a better position to ensure that our national defense priorities are met."
"During my time in Congress, our country has faced the air war in Kosovo, the 9/11 attacks, and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq," said Congressman Vic Snyder. "Decisions made in the annual defense bill shape the forces of the future for challenges yet to be faced by our young men and women in uniform. I look forward to serving with Senator Pryor as we complete this year's defense bill."
Conference committees are charged with reaching an agreement on differences in the House and Senate versions of similar bills. After a conference committee agrees on a unified bill, it goes back to both houses for passage before it is sent it to the president to sign or veto.
Senator Pryor serves on the Senate Governmental Affairs and Senate Armed Services committees of which he sits on the Subcommittees on Airland, Personnel, Readiness and Management Support. As a member of the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, the Senator proudly promotes the interests of those state enterprises he calls "Arkansas' economic backbone."
Since taking office in 1996, Congressman Snyder has served on two Congressional committees: the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the House Armed Services Committee. Congressman Snyder sits on the Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health, the Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness, and is the Ranking Member of the Armed Services Subcommittee on Total Force.
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