WASHINGTON — The U.S. House of Representatives has passed 11 of the 12 annual appropriations bills to fund the federal government, including a Defense Appropriations measure that directs more than $1.1 billion to Louisiana’s military bases and defense industry.
Mike Johnson played a role in securing the funding, which includes $424.7 million dedicated to defense priorities in Louisiana’s Fourth Congressional District and $227 million for Global Strike Command at Barksdale Air Force Base.
The legislation allocates $111.2 million to enhance security and training missions for the Air Force Global Strike Command and $115.8 million to support partnerships between the command and the Shreveport-Bossier defense sector.
An additional $11.5 million is designated for a new collaboration program at Fort Polk aimed at addressing issues facing service members. The bill also includes $40 million to support the defense industry at Camp Minden.
Other allocations include $20 million for the Military-Civilian Medical Surge Program and funding for Department of Defense Impact Aid, which supports school districts in communities with large military populations, including Vernon Parish.
House leaders described the appropriations process as a step toward completing regular order in federal budgeting while maintaining support for military readiness and defense-related economic activity in Louisiana.