Washington, June 11, 2015 - Rep. Tom Graves (R-GA-14) issued the following statement today after voting in favor of the FY16 Department of Defense Appropriations Act (H.R. 2685), legislation that funds defense operations and includes a 2.3 percent pay raise for the troops:

“This bill provides essential funding for our national defense – the most fundamental role of the federal government. With every military branch of our armed forces represented in Georgia, this bill secures our state’s military bases along with the communities they support.

“Additionally, the bill includes a pay raise for our troops. In a world of ever-expanding threats to our national security, our troops have fought and sacrificed to keep us safe. Their families have endured long deployments, sleepless nights and instability. There is no doubt that our troops – and their families – deserve a raise. Although our debt to these brave men and women can never be fully repaid, this pay raise helps honor their service.”

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