Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Michael Waltz (R-Fla.) issued the following statement on his vote in favor of the Fiscal Year 2020 national security package which funds the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Department of Justice and related agencies.

“Providing resources for national security departments and NASA is a positive ending to a year which has left Floridians frustrated with partisan gridlock in Washington,” Waltz said. “From defending our assets with a Space Force, to launching the first woman to deep space from Florida’s coast, investing in modern defense systems, keeping our promises to our ally Israel and strengthening border security, this package puts Americans first.”

Waltz-supported highlights of the package include:

• $1.7 billion in disaster aid for military bases, including bases in Florida impacted by hurricanes
• $600 million for NASA to make necessary investments to put the first woman and the next man on the moon by 2024
• $500 million to fully fund security assistance to Israel
• $346 million for two additional E-2D Advanced Hawkeyes, $210 million for light attack aircraft, $2.9 million for sonobuoys, all of which are produced in Florida
• $70 million for U.S. Space Command
• $40 million for the U.S. Space Force

“While I am glad I could support funding for our national security departments, I want to be clear that I voted against the behemoth package to fund the remaining federal departments because it was introduced fewer than 24 hours before the vote and significantly increased spending from last year,” Waltz said.