On June 22, the House Appropriations Committee approved $23 million for the Army’s Humanitarian Demining Research & Development (HD R&D) program in the FY24 defense budget. This is a $2 million increase from last year’s allocation of $21 million, as well as well as $14 million above the President’s Budget for this year.
This funding increase will protect both civilians and U.S. servicemembers abroad by facilitating the development of new, safer, and more efficient demining technology. The HD R&D program is testing technology in over 10 countries, including cutting vegetation in Colombia and clearing farmland in Ukraine.
You can read the whole bill report here. The legislation will now proceed to a house-wide vote.