United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense

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The U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense is one of twelve subcommittees of the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations. Military defense spending is the largest individual component of federal discretionary spending^[1], making the Defense Subcommittee one of the more powerful Appropriations subcommittees. When referring to federal discretionary spending as a whole, many budget analysists make a distinction between defense and non-defense discretionary spending.

Contents 1 Jurisdiction 2 Members, 110th Congress 3 See also 4 External links 5 References

[edit] Jurisdiction

Funding requirements for the United States military are laid out in the U.S Constitution. In addition to the general requirement that funds withdrawn from the Treasury only through "approprations made by law" (Article I, Section 9), the Constitution gives Congress the authority to "raise and support Armies," but limits funding for the military to a maximum of two years (Article I, Section 8). This restriction is generally not an issue for Congress, since by law, the federal budget operates on a year-to-year basis.

The subcommittee oversees overall funding for the Department of Defense, including the Army, Navy, Air Force. The subcommittee is also responsible for funding for the Central Intelligence Agency.

Some defense agencies are the responsibility of separate subcommittees. Funding for military construction activities, such as military personnel housing and infrastructure, and veterans issues are handled by the Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies. Funding for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is handled by the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development.

[edit] Members, 110th Congress

The Committee is currently chaired by Democrat Daniel Inouye of Hawaii, and the Ranking Minority member is Republican Ted Stevens of Alaska.

Majority Member State   Daniel Inouye, Chairman Hawaii   Robert Byrd West Virginia   Patrick Leahy Vermont   Tom Harkin Iowa   Byron Dorgan North Dakota   Dick Durbin Illinois   Dianne Feinstein California   Barbara Mikulski Maryland   Herb Kohl Wisconsin   Patty Murray Washington

Minority Member State   Ted Stevens, Ranking Member Alaska   Thad Cochran Mississippi   Arlen Specter Pennsylvania   Pete Domenici New Mexico   Kit Bond Missouri   Mitch McConnell Kentucky   Richard Shelby Alabama   Judd Gregg New Hampshire   Kay Bailey Hutchinson Texas

[edit] See also

• United States House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense

[edit] External links

• U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense official web site

[edit] References

1. ^ http://www.cbo.gov/showdoc.cfm?index=7720&sequence=0 Congressional Budget Office, Monthly Budget Review, January 8, 2007

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