Washington, D.C. – Congressman Darin LaHood (IL-16) – a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence – praised the passage of the Fiscal Year 2026 Department of Defense Appropriations Act to invest in America’s military superiority.
To further show Rep. LaHood’s commitment to strengthening U.S. national security, Rep. LaHood voiced his support for a piece of standalone legislation, the Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025, targeting Russia’s unprovoked aggression in Ukraine.
“To confront the generational threat posed by our foreign adversaries, the United States must invest in our military and enforce substantive mechanisms to deter further aggression,” said Rep. LaHood. “I am proud to support the FY 2026 Defense Appropriations Act to deliver critical resources to our armed forces and maintain our strategic advantage.
“The United States must stand firmly with our allies and send a clear message that aggression will not go unpunished. To advance Republicans' Peace Through Strength agenda, I am proud to co-sponsor Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick’s Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025 to hold Putin accountable for his unprovoked and brutal aggression against Ukraine. I look forward to working with my colleagues on a bipartisan basis to bolster our national security.”
Background:
The Fiscal Year 2026 Department of Defense Appropriations Act invests in America’s military superiority, protects against threats from the United States' southern border, and supports our service members and their families.
Recent use of drones in the Ukraine-Russia conflict has highlighted the urgency of accelerated research to counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) to protect U.S. forces in combat. Rep. LaHood's amendment would provide an increase in funding for UAS research and development.
Key takeaways from the Fiscal Year 2026 Department of Defense Appropriations Act:
- Champions America’s military superiority by investing in our aircraft, submarines, and shipbuilding;
- Supports our service members and their families by increasing pay for military personnel; and
- Combats international actors who facilitate drug trafficking and manufacturing.
If Russia continues to refuse to engage in good-faith negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, Rep. LaHood supports sanctions against the country. The Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025 implements expansive sanctions on Russia’s government officials, individuals, financial institutions, and entities affiliated or owned by Russia’s President, Vladimir Putin. Additionally, the legislation enacts 500 percent tariffs on all imports to the United States from Russia and from any countries that continue to fund Putin’s war machine by purchasing Russian-origin oil, petroleum, or uranium products.
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