May 4 (UPI) — A U.S. defense spending bill summary unveiled Friday includes money for the Veterans Day military parade requested by President Donald Trump.
In the summary of the National Defense Authorization Act proposal for 2019, House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry said he “agrees with President Trump that it is appropriate to honor and celebrate 100 years of patriotic sacrifice in a way that expresses appreciation and admiration for our men and women in uniform, including a parade in the nation’s capital and a national celebration for that purpose.”
Trump directed Pentagon officials in February to prepare a parade for veterans, after seeing the Bastille Day Parade in France last summer.
In March, the Pentagon said a parade in Washington, D.C., would happen in November, the 100th anniversary of the end of World War II.
The Pentagon memo also noted that only wheeled vehicles would be allowed in the parade, since tanks — common sights in military parades in Russia and North Korea — could damage city streets.
The funds earmarked for the parade are part of an omnibus spending package for the U.S. military to “focus on rebuilding America’s military after years of resource cuts.”
“It also reforms Pentagon institutions to make the Armed Forces more agile,” the House Armed Services Committee said.
In February, White House budget chief Mick Mulvaney said staging the military parade could cost as much as $30 million.
The inclusion of parade funding is expected to generate more debate when the panel meets next week.
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