HJM 4000

Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research	BILL ANALYSIS

State Government Operations & Accountability Committee

HJM 4000

Brief Description: Requesting passage of the Defense Appropriations Legislation.

Sponsors: Representatives Curtis, Lovick, Hinkle, Buri, Holmquist, Rodne, Roach, Clements, Kristiansen, Armstrong, Buck, McCoy and Woods.

Brief Summary of Bill

Joint Memorial to the President and Congress requests that the Members of Congress and Senators from Washington pass and enact the Defense Appropriations Legislation before all other spending bills in 2005 and thereafter.

Hearing Date: 1/25/05

Staff: James Allen (786-7114).

Background:

The U.S. Congress adopts a separate budget for the Department of Defense. Memorials may be used by the Washington Legislature to request officials in Washington, DC act in a certain manner.

Summary of Bill:

The Memorial recognizes the following priorities in its message to the President and Congress. The Legislature finds that:

National security is the first and foremost obligation of the Unites States Government.
The men and women of the United State Armed Forces deserve to be equipped with the best weapons and resources.
In past years, Congress has delayed passing the Defense Appropriations Bill until late in the budget year so as to add "pork barrel spending" to the bill.
After September 11, 2001, President Bush asked that Congress pass the Defense Appropriations Bill before passing other spending bills, and that this occurred in 2002, 2003, and 2004. The bill commends this.

The Legislature requests that the Members of Congress and Senators from Washington pass and enact the Defense Appropriations Legislation before all other spending bills in 2005 and thereafter.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.