{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://hultgren.house.gov//newsroom/press-releases/hultgren-supports-defense-bill-reducing-administration-cuts-ensuring", "Hultgren Supports Defense Bill Reducing Administration Cuts, Ensuring National Security Priorities", "2014-12-04", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "IL", "Randy Hultgren", "H001059", "hultgren.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC \u2014 U.S. Representative Randy Hultgren (IL-14) today supported passage (300-119) of the bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015, H.R. 3979, a bicameral agreement to provide for our nation\u2019s defense and the support, protection, and resources our military needs while remaining consistent with previous budget agreements. Rep. Hultgren previously supported the House-passed authorization, H.R. 4435, in May which passed by a vote of\u00a0325-98. For a full summary of H.R. 3979, please click here.\n\u201cSupporting our nation\u2019s military families and ensuring our national defense is essential to a strong and prosperous nation. This fiscally responsible bill works within previously-passed budget constraints while prioritizing resources toward making sure our country is secure\u2014and reducing the cuts to housing benefits proposed by the administration,\u201d said Rep. Hultgren. \u201cI am pleased Congress and the President have continued the now 53-year long tradition of providing for our military and national defense with timely defense reauthorization bills.\u201d\nHighlights of the bill include:\n Rejecting the Administration\u2019s 5 percent cut to basic allowance for housing (BAH) for a 1 percent reduction. The bill also includes a one-year $3 increase in co-pays for select pharmaceuticals.\n\tBuilding upon efforts to combat sexual assault and eliminating the \u201cgood soldier defense,\u201d a consideration of general military character toward the probability of innocence in sexual assault prosecutions. It also provides for consultation of victims for their preference to prosecute offenders by court-martial or through civilian challenges.\n\tHelping to reverse the trend of military suicide by including $45.3 million towards behavioral and psychological health programs.\n\tProviding authorization for awarding the Purple Heart to members of the armed forces killed or wounded in a domestic attack inspired by a foreign terrorist organization, such as the 2009 attack at Fort Hood.\n\tAuthorizing the Iraq Train and Equip program for two years to assist Iraqi security forces as they rebuild their capability and capacity to defeat ISIL.\n\tThe President\u2019s supplemental request for $5 billion to support Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq and Syria.\n\tBuilds on previous service member and chaplain religious liberty protections.\n\tMaintains prohibitions on transferring Guantanamo detainees to the United States and on building domestic terrorist detention facilities.\n ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://hultgren.house.gov//newsroom/press-releases/hultgren-supports-defense-bill-reducing-administration-cuts-ensuring"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.5386608429253101, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}