HOUSE PASSES LARGEST MILITARY SUPPLY BILL

JFK+50:  Volume 7, No. 2436

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PASSES LARGEST MILITARY SUPPLY BILL IN HISTORY

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) One hundred years ago today, September 18, 1917, the United States House of Representatives passed "the largest deficiency appropriation bill in the history of the government."*

This huge military supply legislation was passed unanimously and without a roll call.  The bill appropriates $7,144,000,000 for the war effort.  It is intended to supply and equip 2 million soldiers and sailors of the United States.

The Chicago Daily Tribune reported that the bill will now go to the Senate Appropriations Committee** for consideration and predicted the Senate would approve the legislation "before adjournment."

*Article 1, Section 9 of the United States Constitution says..."No money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in consequence of Appropriations made by Law."  

**The United States Senate Committee on Appropriations has jurisdiction over all discretionary spending legislation in the Senate.

SOURCES

"$7,000,000,000 Bill TO Smash Kaiser Passed", Chicago Daily Tribune, September 19, 1917.

United States Senate Committee on Appropriations, www.appropriations.senate.gov/

Seal of the U.S. Senate

Capitol Building

Washington, D.C.

Photo by John White (2003)