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Thornberry wins pledge to grow DoD budgets, but will it stick?

Defense News: WASHINGTON — House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry confirmed Tuesday he secured a commitment from House GOP leaders for 15 percent defense budget growth over three years as part of an emerging budget deal.

But the commitment faces choppy seas. The deal — a nod to what Pentagon leaders say they need to preserve America's military edge — must survive a number of hurdles yet, including negotiations on a budget conference report, appropriations legislation, the debt limit and statutory budget caps, as well as bipartisan, bicameral budget negotiations.

House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., were party to the agreement, with the HASC, House Budget Committee and House Appropriations Committee “all on the same page,” said Thornberry, R-Texas.

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