Cole Amendment to Defense Appropriations Protects WCF Employees

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04), a member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 2685, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2016. The funding legislation seeks to maintain the nation’s readiness. It includes a 2.3 percent pay raise for military service members.

The final version of the legislation included an amendment authored by Cole that prevents the furlough of those employed under the Working Capital Fund (WCF), if sequestration is the reason for that action. Approximately 180,000 civilian workers in WCF units are not paid through direct appropriations and, therefore, should be exempt from cuts due to sequestration. Air Logistics Centers at Tinker, Hill and Robbins have 26,087 civilian personnel affected; that includes 8,900 employed at Tinker Air Force Base in the Fourth District of Oklahoma.

“Lawmakers and indeed, all Americans, have an important duty to those who volunteered to protect and preserve the United States in the military,” said Cole. “Certainly, we face very real economic struggles as a nation, which has required a shift in our funding priorities in many areas of government. But no matter what year it is or the nature of our circumstances, the military never loses its importance to the safety and security of our nation. In today’s world, the threats to our national security are ever present, and that requires the maintenance of an always strong and robust military able to address threats wherever and whenever they occur.”

Click here for Congressman Cole’s remarks on the House floor upon introduction of the amendment, which passed by voice vote.

Text of the amendment is available here.

Other bill highlights are listed here.

###

Contact:Sarah Corley (202) 225-6165