WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), the only member of the Louisiana Congressional delegation to serve on the Senate Appropriations Committee, this week voted to advance the FY2020 Department of Defense Appropriations Act, which invests in the U.S. military and supports defense programs that are essential to our national security.

The Department of Defense Appropriations Act includes a 3.1% pay raise for members of the U.S. military and funding to support medical research for ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, ALS, muscular dystrophy and fibrous dysplasia.

Sen. Kennedy also helped secure funding for B-52 modernization.  Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier stations over half of the U.S. fleet of B-52 bombers. 

“Funding our defense and military is absolutely essential to keeping our country safe,” said Sen. Kennedy. “I was proud to vote in approval of this integral investment into U.S. national security.  I’m especially happy to see some of that investment go toward projects back home like the modernization of B-52 bombers at Barksdale Air Force Base.”

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