Van Orden Speaks at Press Conference on Funding Our Military

WASHINGTON, DC – In case you missed it, today Rep. Derrick Van Orden (WI-03) spoke at a press conference highlighting the necessity of funding our government and military alongside committee leaders and military veteran Members of Congress.

The Defense Appropriations bill provides $177.9 billion for active, reserve, and National Guard military personnel, which is $5.2 billion above the FY23 enacted level. This includes a historic pay increase for junior enlisted servicemembers by an average of 30 percent and a 5.2 percent basic pay increase for all military personnel.

As the Congressman said: “We cannot use our troops as bargaining chips. We’re all trying to get to the same place. We want fiscal responsibility, we want all of these things – reduced government spending, we want these things, but we’ve got to do it responsibly, and this is not the way to do it.”

Watch the full clip here.