Planned Army troop cuts would be reversed under a measure that has the backing of the House Armed Services Committee.
U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn, R-Colorado Springs, said the committee-backed plan would also block a Pentagon proposal to close military bases, boost space spending and halt proposed cuts to missile defense programs.
Lamborn, who sits on the committee, said Tuesday that blocking troop cuts is key to keeping the nation safe.
"We live in a dangerous world and American strength deters the bad actors," said Lamborn, who faces Democrat and GOP foes in his bid for a sixth term.
The House version of the 2017 defense plan will head to the Senate for consideration.
The Army planned to cut its active-duty forces to 450,000 by 2017 as part of a Pentagon belt-tightening plan. That's down from a wartime height of 520,000 soldiers in 2012.
The House committee voted to hold Army rosters at 480,000 soldiers next year, according to an agreed version of the National Defense Authorization Act released Tuesday. more
