‘Arguably The Most Important Piece Of Legislation That Congress Considers Every Year’
This Year’s Defense Authorization Provides $750 Billion For National Defense, Including Pay Raises For Our Military, Upgraded Equipment And Capabilities, And The Resources To Strengthen Our Alliances And Confront ‘Threats From Great Power Competitors And Rogue Regimes’
The Senate passed the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act by an overwhelming bipartisan 86-8 vote. (S. 1790, Roll Call Vote #188: Passed 86-8, 6/27/2019)
‘Ensures The United States Military Will Sustain Its Place As The Most Prepared, Best-Equipped, And Most Lethal Fighting Force In The World’
SENATE MAJORITY LEADER MITCH McCONNELL (R-KY): “Every year, this legislation focuses this chamber on one of our most fundamental constitutional duties: providing for the common defense. Every year, the Senate approves authorizing legislation to address the needs of America’s men and women in uniform…. [T]his year’s NDAA is built with a heavy emphasis on strengthening our partnerships in the most troubled regions of the world. Of course, it also ensures the United States military will sustain its place as the most prepared, best-equipped, and most lethal fighting force in the world.” (Sen. McConnell, Remarks, 6/19/2019)
SEN. TODD YOUNG (R-IN), U.S. Marine Corps Veteran: “Arguably the most important piece of legislation that Congress considers every year is the Defense authorization bill and I will be supporting this year’s version of that Defense authorization bill. I’m proud that it gives our troops the first significant pay increase in roughly a decade. I’m proud that it will reassure our partners and allies that the United States is prepared to fight alongside them to protect our interests and our people…. It helps keep our warriors, our warfighters, prepared for the fight so they never have to fight a fair fight.” (Sen. Young, Press Conference, 6/25/2019)
SEN. MARSHA BLACKBURN (R-TN), Senate Armed Services Committee Member: “The importance of maintaining a regular budget for our military cannot be overstated. Failure to do so will put our troops at a disadvantage. The ongoing tension between the United States and Iran has magnified the part that deterrence plays in defending our security without resorting to the use of military force. Last week I spoke at length about two emerging warfighting domains that challenge the way we think about modern defense—cyber, and space. That’s why this year’s NDAA expands beyond legacy programs to include recognition of emerging threats.” (Sen. Blackburn, Floor Remarks, 6/25/2019)
SEN. TAMMY DUCKWORTH (D-IL), Army Veteran And Senate Armed Services Committee Member: “The brave men and women in uniform who are deployed across the globe deserve to know that our country stands behind them as they risk their lives to defend our country and our Constitution…. I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to continue improving the NDAA and ensure Congress sends a message that we have our troops’ backs.” (Sen. Duckworth, Press Release, 5/23/2019)
SEN. TIM KAINE (D-VA), Senate Armed Services Committee Member: “Each year, the national defense bill is a key opportunity to support our servicemembers, strengthen our defense assets, and make our nation safer. This year, I am proud that we are continuing the tradition of passing another strong, bipartisan bill out of the Armed Services Committee. After hearing firsthand from too many military families in Virginia about the awful conditions they faced in base housing, I got to work to include reforms in this must-pass bill to ensure safe housing for our troops and their loved ones. I’m thankful that my colleagues supported amendments I offered to address this issue. Military families make tremendous sacrifices for our nation, and we owe them our full support.” (Sen. Kaine, Press Release, 5/23/2019)
SEN. JOE MANCHIN (D-WV), Senate Armed Services Committee Member: “At a time when we face many threats at home and abroad with budget constraints because of our country’s dire fiscal challenges, we must make sure that we maintain a strong defense while also reducing unnecessary costs. This bipartisan defense package provides necessary funding to support our troops and defend our nation and provide support to our West Virginia service members and industrial base. I am proud to have worked in a bipartisan way to include these provisions and I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass this important legislation.” (Sen. Manchin, Press Release, 5/23/2019)
Armed Services Committee Leaders: This Year’s NDAA ‘Provid[es] The Resources Our Military Needs To Maintain Our Superiority’ And Features ‘Provisions That Support The Quality Of Life For Our Military Personnel, Including A 3.1-Percent Pay Raise’
SEN. JIM INHOFE (R-OK), Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman: “This year’s National Defense Authorization Act keeps us on the course started last year—continuing implementation of the National Defense Strategy, restoring our combat advantage and supporting our warfighters. Our NDAA provides for $750 billion for national security, providing the resources our military needs to maintain our superiority. It ensures our service members—all volunteers—and their families have the training, resources and equipment they need to complete the mission. Each and every provision addresses some of the most pressing challenges facing our military: curtailing threats from great power competitors and rogue regimes, securing new warfighting frontiers of space and cyberspace and addressing management issues within the Department of Defense, in particular, privatized housing.” (U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, Press Release, 5/23/2019)
SEN. JACK REED (D-RI), Senate Armed Services Committee Ranking Member: “I believe this bill contains many provisions that will benefit the Department and our servicemembers…. Several months ago … this committee became acutely aware of a crisis in quality and safety of privatized military housing. After many weeks of visiting these houses, talking with the affected families, and holding two hearings, the committee included 32 separate provisions in this bill, addressing housing concerns…. The bill includes a number of other provisions that support the quality of life for our military personnel, including a 3.1-percent pay raise, $40 million in supplemental impact aid for federally impacted local school districts, and $10 million in impact aid for severely disabled military children…. In the area of science and technology, I am pleased that the bill authorizes increases in funding for critical technology areas like cyber security, undersea warfare, and manufacturing.” (Sen. Reed, Congressional Record, S.3834-35, 6/19/2019)
Key Provisions In The Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act
“The NDAA supports a total of $750 billion in fiscal year 2020 funding for national defense, in line with the [Pentagon’s] budget request and the [National Defense Strategy] Commission report.” (“FY 2020 National Defense Authorization Act, Executive Summary,” U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, 5/23/2019)
- “Provides for a 3.1 percent pay raise for members of the Armed Forces.”
- “Authorizes $155.8 billion for military personnel, including costs of pay, allowances, bonuses, death benefits, and permanent change of station moves.”
- Authorizes Active-Duty end strength of 438,000 for the Army, 340,500 for the Navy, 186,200 for the Marine Corps, and 332,800 for the Air Force.
- “Authorizes $10 billion to procure 94 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft, an additional 16 aircraft above the administration’s request, enabling the forces to modernize and equip themselves with the most advanced and capable fifth-generation aircraft.”
- “Authorizes the procurement of 105 naval aviation aircraft (in addition to the F-35s …).”
- Authorizes funding for advanced F-15s and tankers for the Air Force, 48 AH-64E Apache and 66 UH-60M Blackhawk and 42 other helicopters for the Army.
- “Authorizes $24.1 billion for shipbuilding to fund 12 new construction battle force ships.”
- Authorizes Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicles, Stryker vehicles, radars, and infantry support weapons for the Army.
- “Establishes the United States Space Force within the U.S. Air Force.”
- “Authorizes an increase of more than $1.4 billion above the administration’s request for Research, Development, Test and Evaluation programs.”
- “Continues building the capabilities of U.S. Cyber Command, authorizing $66 million in funding above the administration’s request [and] [a]uthorizes an increase of $57.5 million above the administration’s request for cyber basic and applied research.”
- “Includes a total $3.31 billion for disaster recovery at Navy, Air Force and Army National Guard installations in Nebraska, North Carolina and Florida.”
- “[S]trengthens key alliances and partnerships …” including “up to $300 million for security assistance to Ukraine, of which $100 million is available only for lethal assistance,” “$500 million for cooperative missile defense programs with Israel,” “$4.8 billion for the Afghanistan Security Forces Fund,” “assistance to the Iraqi Security Forces and vetted Syrian groups to counter the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria through 2020.”
- Sustains detention policies for dangerous detainees housed in Guantanamo Bay, preventing their transfer or release to the United States.
- Includes many provisions to reform management contracting, and IT policies within the Department of Defense.
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SENATE REPUBLICAN COMMUNICATIONS CENTER
Related Issues: China, Guantanamo Detention Facility, War on Terror, America's Military, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Israel, NDAA, ISIL, National Security, Al Qaeda
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