WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.) announced today that he will join the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense for the 113th Congress. Blunt was also recently named a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services, and is one of only two Republican Senators to serve on both full committees.

“Missouri is home to hundreds of thousands of active duty and civilian defense employees and private sector contractors, and the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee and the Armed Services Committee will both be faced with a number of critical spending challenges with the president’s potential sequestration cuts on the horizon,” said Blunt.

“There’s no doubt that spending in Washington is out-of-control, but President Obama should show leadership and ensure these budget cuts are targeted in a way that does not compromise our nation’s defense,” Blunt continued.

Missouri is home to almost 18,000 active duty servicemen and women, nearly 10,000 civilian employees, 25,000 reservists and members of the National Guard, and almost 29,000 additional military-related personnel. The state also has more than 125,000 civilian contract employees.

Blunt will continue to serve as Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies. He will also continue to serve as a member of the Appropriations Subcommittees for:

• Transportation and Housing and Urban Development;
• Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies; and
• State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs.

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