WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Reed, a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today joined President Obama at the Whitehouse as he signed the Fiscal Year 2010 National Defense Authorization Act into law. This bill authorizes funding for the Department of Defense and the national security programs of the Department of Energy.

"I am pleased the President has signed this budget proposal into law. It provides critical federal funding to help defend our nation, protect our troops, and support their families," said Reed. "Not only does this legislation strengthen national security, but it also directly benefits Rhode Islanders. The bill authorizes full funding for the continuation of the DDG-1000 Zumwalt Class Destroyer Program and the procurement of the Virginia Class Submarine - two programs that are vital to Rhode Island's shipbuilding and defense electronics industries. In addition, it bolsters Rhode Island's small business community by reauthorizing the DOD Small Business Innovation Research and DOD Small Business Technology Transfer programs, which invest in innovative new technologies to support national defense."

The defense bill includes a 3.4 percent across-the-board pay raise for all uniformed personnel. It supports family caregivers by authorizing special compensation for the assistance they give to our wounded warriors.

This legislation also provides the necessary equipment our troops need by adding $1.2 billion above the President's request for MRAP All-Terrain Vehicles to be deployed to Afghanistan and by adding $600 million to address equipment shortfalls in the National Guard and Reserves.

Additionally, the bill expands federal hate crime laws making it a federal crime to assault an individual because of his or her sexual orientation or gender identity. President George W. Bush had threatened to veto a similar measure.

Under the Congressional budget process, now that the authorization is signed into law, funding for the agencies, programs, and activities is then provided separately in the annual appropriation spending bill. On October 6, the U.S. Senate passed a defense appropriations package providing over $80.5 million in defense funding for Rhode Island that U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) requested as part of the Department of Defense Appropriations Bill for fiscal year 2010. The Senate appropriations bill must now be reconciled in Conference Committee with the version passed by the U.S. House of Representative. After the conference completes its work, the final version of the appropriations bill must be approved by both the Senate and the House before going to President Obama's desk to be signed into law.