Congresswoman Torres Criticizes Republican Poison Pills & Advances Military Cold Case Reform in Defense Funding Bill
Washington, D.C. – Following today's full committee markup of the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee's fiscal year 2024 funding bill, Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) – a member of the Appropriations Committee – released a statement:
"I am disappointed, but unfortunately not surprised that instead of investing in our national security and the issues that matter most to our men and women in uniform, Republicans continue to let extremists hijack the routine government funding process," said Congresswoman Torres. "This year's defense appropriations legislation puts our national security at risk by cutting essential civilian personnel, restricting our brave women in uniform from accessing reproductive health care, and discouraging military recruitment from the diverse communities that keep our country strong. Our servicemembers and the American people deserve better than a bill that places petty partisanship over our national security."
Following the unsolved murder of Army Specialist Enrique Roman-Martinez, a native of California's 35th District, Congresswoman Torres has championed measures to improve the military's handling of cold cases. As a part of this year's Defense funding bill, Congresswoman Torres secured $5 million for a new program focused on military cold-case investigative training, in honor of Enrique Roman-Martinez. This funding provides grants with a focus on cold case solutions for collaborative training opportunities between Army criminal investigative agents and state and local law enforcement and ways to grow the pipeline of talent of excellent military personnel transitioning to civilian special agent roles.
"Although I remain disappointed that extremist demands have produced a Defense Appropriations bill that I cannot support, I was proud to secure $5 million to invest in military cold case training," continued Congresswoman Torres. "Our military makes a sacred commitment to never leave a fallen service member behind, and it is their duty to inform families if their loved one is killed. As the mother of an Air Force veteran, I feared that conversation every day during my son's deployment but know that it is essential closure for families of fallen service members. The provisions I included in this legislation will ensure that cold case investigators have the training they need to do their jobs, helping ensure military families will get the answers and justice they deserve."
In April, the Congresswoman led a letter with House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel Ranking Member Andy Kim (NJ-03) to call for adequate, stable funding for Military Criminal Investigative Organizations, which included this funding too. In 2022, Congresswoman Torres introduced the Enrique Roman-Martinez Military Cold Case Justice Act – which was included in the FY2023 government funding bill – to improve military cold case investigations and deliver justice for military families. As a Member of the Appropriations Committee, she has already secured funding for the Army Cold Case Unit while this year's funding bill advances through Congress.