Military

            President George W. Bush today sent Congress his fiscal 2006 defense budget.  It requests $419.3 billion in discretionary budget authority for the Department of Defense, and represents a nearly five percent increase over fiscal 2005 funding levels.

            "This budget represents the latest installment in the President's strong commitment to transforming this department to face the challenges of the 21^st century," said Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.  "We continue our transition to a more agile, deployable, and lethal force."

            Defense spending in fiscal 2006 is 41 percent above fiscal 2001.  Military pay has increased about 25 percent.  The fiscal budget marks a crucial investment in our nation's service members, including a 3.1 percent increase in base pay, plus bonuses, and recruiting and retention programs to ensure the Defense Department maintains its professional fighting force.

            "We are a nation at war," said Rumsfeld.  "The President's budget, together with the supplemental spending proposals the President has made, provides the men and women in uniform what they need to prevail."

            The fiscal 2006 defense budget is posted at d20050207budget.pdf