By Trish Svoboda

On June 28, U.S. Representative Tracey Mann voted to reduce and reprioritize federal spending, end the weaponization of the federal government, and secure the nation’s borders. The legislation funds the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of State for Fiscal Year 2025, beginning on October 1, 2024. With this, the U.S. House of Representatives has now passed four of the twelve annual appropriation bills. Rep. Mann released the following statement after the votes.

“For three years, I have pushed for Congress to return to regular order and pass 12 individual appropriation bills,” said Rep. Mann. “The legislation passed in the U.S. House today stewards Kansans’ tax dollars well. They reduce and reprioritize our federal spending, secure our southern border, and deal with the weaponization of the federal government. They also strengthen U.S. national security and deliver on my commitment to the Big First. I am hopeful that the Senate will do its part to get these bills over the finish line and that Congress will continue to put forth our best effort to complete the appropriations process ahead of the September 30 deadline.”

H.R. 8752, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2025, was passed in the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 212-203. The act allocates $600 million for the construction of the southern border wall and invests $300 million in border security technology. In addition, it prohibits U.S. taxpayer dollars from being used to pay for abortions or gender-affirming care for Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainees.

H.R. 8774, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2025, was passed in the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 217-198. The act enhances U.S. capabilities to deter Communist China, prohibits the Biden Administration from withholding the delivery of Congressionally approved weapons to Israel, and supports counterdrug activities to slow the flow of fentanyl over U.S. borders.

H.R. 8771, the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2025, was passed in the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 212-200. The act bolsters funding for U.S. national security to counter malign influence from adversaries such as China, Russia, and Iran, positions Israel, the sole democracy in the Middle East, to better defend itself from terrorist attacks, and addresses the backlog of passport applications at the State Department.

The legislation will now proceed to the U.S. Senate for further review.