Rep. Mike Kelly votes to pass budget, keep government open

March 22, 2024

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) voted in favor of six spending bills that will fully fund the federal government through fiscal year (FY) 2024. Friday's vote completes the FY24 budget process, which includes more money for the Defense Department, the largest pay raise for military service members in the last 20 years, and claws back billions in unused COVID-19 funding.

"No budget is perfect in a divided government, but this year's plan includes significant wins for our military, our nation's borders, American families, and hardworking American taxpayers," Rep. Kelly said. "It's important to remember that every dollar we spend in Washington first comes from the American taxpayer. I encourage everyone to read what's in the bill."

Friday's vote comes after Rep. Kelly secured $15.7 million in Community Project Funding earlier this month for infrastructure projects, volunteer fire departments, and police departments across the 16th Congressional District. You can learn more HERE.

WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE:

Provides a $27 billion increase over the FY23 enacted level
Doubles security cooperation funding for Taiwan.
Funds the largest increase (5.2%) in basic military pay in over 20 years.
Prohibits funding for the Wuhan Institute of Virology and EcoHealth Alliance in China.

FINANCIAL SERVICES AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT:

Takes back $10.2 billion from the Administration, partially defunding President Biden’s supercharged army of 85,000 Internal Revenue Service (IRS) agents.
Claws back $2.16 billion in unused COVID-19 funding.
Prevents the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) recent efforts to ban gas stoves, which would reduce consumer choice.
Prohibiting federal funding for abortion coverage through the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHBP)

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY:

Funds 22,000 Border Patrol Agents, which is consistent with H.R. 2 and the highest level ever funded, and provides $125 million for increases to Border Patrol overtime pay authorized by the NDAA
Funds a detention bed level of 41,500, which is consistent with H.R. 2, 7,500 above the FY23 level, and 16,500 above the President’s Budget Request.
Increases funding for new border security technology, and invests in cutting-edge technology like Autonomous Security Towers, cross-border tunnel detection, and Non-Intrusive Inspection equipment to detect fentanyl

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR & DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES:

Fully supports basic biomedical research investigating cures for cancers, Alzheimer’s disease, and other chronic and rare diseases
Targets resources to rural communities, including vital telehealth and opioid response resources.
Claws back $4.3 billion in unnecessary COVID-19 funding
Maintains longstanding, bipartisan riders, including the Hyde Amendment, which ensures no federal funding can be used for abortion.

LEGISLATIVE BRANCH:

Reins in bureaucratic growth at Legislative Branch agencies, reversing the trend of nearly 10% growth over the last five fiscal years, instead shrinking that bureaucracy by 2.2% this fiscal year,
Requires unspent amounts from Members’ Representational Allowances to be used for debt and deficit reduction.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE:

Cuts overall spending by 6%, slashing resources the Biden Administration can spend on controversial programs that have nothing to do with U.S. national security
Prioritizes funding to counter the PRC, including $300 million in Foreign Military Financing for Taiwan.
Reaffirms our commitment to Israel, fully funding our annual security commitment of $3.3 billion.