WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Senate today voted 92-7 to approve the Fiscal Year 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).  The bill authorizes approximately $543 billion for national defense programs, as well as an additional $67.8 billion for overseas contingency operations. 

The NDAA includes a number of key provisions and reforms that were backed by U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), the Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, to enhance national security, support our service members, increase military readiness, and reform the defense acquisition process.  Reed also led efforts to include language in the bill to strengthen naval readiness and boost submarine manufacturing, which is a vital part of Rhode Island’s defense industry.  Reed helped ensure the bill continues the construction of two Virginia-class submarines per year, which is critical given the cost savings achieved, the efficiencies gained in the production schedule, and the projected shortfall in attack submarines over the next decade.

“This bipartisan defense bill will help provide our troops with the resources they need and provide some budget stability to help the Pentagon plan for the future and achieve cost savings,” said Senator Reed.  “The NDAA includes crucial investments to enhance our nation’s military readiness and support ongoing operations overseas.  It also enhances critical work being done by the defense industry in Rhode Island to strengthen our naval readiness and continue to advance the next generation of submarines and undersea technologies, which are essential to our national security.”

Notably, the FY17 NDAA contains a 2.1 percent pay raise for troops.  It also provides support to ongoing operations overseas and makes significant force structure investments.  The bill also reauthorizes a number of expiring bonus and special pay authorities to encourage enlistment, reenlistment, and continued service by active-duty and reserve component military personnel. 

Additionally, the NDAA reflects a comprehensive review of the efficiency of the roles and organization within the Department of Defense, and includes a Reed-backed provision that would create “Cross Functional Teams,” a new tool for the Secretary of Defense to manage the formation and implementation of policies and solutions for complex problems that inherently cut across the many “stove piped” functional organizations in the Department.  The private sector has pioneered and mastered this highly effective integration mechanism for a generation, and business schools and business consultancies have championed its use for decades, but the government rarely has utilized this instrument effectively. 

Reed also successfully blocked several controversial policy riders, such as the Russell Amendment, which would have allowed federal contractors to use federal tax dollars to fund hiring discrimination based on religion, sexuality, or gender.

A number of Rhode Island-related projects and priorities are included in this bipartisan legislation, including:

  • $5 billion for the Virginia-class submarine program, including advance procurement for two ships planned in 2017.  The bill supports the ten boat, multi-year contract that the Navy and Electric Boat signed in April 2014;
  • $1.9 billion to fully support the Ohio-class Replacement Program;
  • $271.7 million for the DDG-1000 Zumwalt destroyer program;
  • $126.3 million to accelerate undersea warfare applied research;
  • $20 million for the construction of a new, 80,000 square-foot Readiness Center and headquarters facility for the Rhode Island Army and Air National Guard in East Greenwich to enable citizen soldiers to train for missions abroad and at home;
  • $10 million for the procurement of additional towed array sensor systems that detect stealth submarines, a priority for the Navy;
  • $5 million in Impact Aid for schools with military dependent children with severe disabilities;
  • Makes the authorization of the Rapid Innovation Fund program permanent and extends the DOD’s Small Business Innovation Research program government-wide for an additional five years; and
  • Provides authorities to help Newport’s Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) attract and hire world-class scientists and engineers and improve its unique testing and research facilities.

The NDAA also reflects other priorities backed by Senator Reed to sustain and improve the quality of life for our men and women in uniform and their families.  The bill extends the Special Survivor Indemnity Allowance for another year; authorizes over $33 billion for the Defense Health Program; and requires the DOD to establish a program to provide recruits with athletic footwear that is made in America.  The bill also clarifies the applicability of certain employment rights for military technicians and makes numerous enhancements to military whistleblower protections.  The bill also establishes an independent National Commission on Military, National, and Public service to review the Selective Service process, and other forms of critical national and public service.

The NDAA passed in the House of Representatives last Friday with a vote of 375 to 34.  Now that the bill has been approved by both the full House and Senate, it will be sent to President Obama to be signed into law.