WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Jack Reed (D-RI), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today announced details of the committee’s markup of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018.  During the markup, 277 amendments—offered by both Republican and Democratic members—were considered and adopted. The committee voted unanimously to report the bill.

The FY18 NDAA authorizes a base defense budget of $632 billion.  Together with the administration’s request of $8 billion for other defense activities, the NDAA supports a total defense budget of $640 billion in funding for the Department of Defense and the national security programs of the Department of Energy.  The bill also authorizes $60 billion for Overseas Contingency Operations.  In sum, the NDAA supports a national defense topline of $700 billion.

“The NDAA starts the process of rebuilding our military after six years of devastating cuts to our defense budget. By supporting $640 billion for defense, this legislation begins to address the readiness shortfall, crisis in modernization, and eroding military advantage by recapitalizing and reinvesting in our forces.  This year’s legislation also builds upon the sweeping reforms that Congress has passed in recent years,” said Chairman McCain.  “By continuing important efforts to reorganize the Department of Defense, spur innovation in defense technology, and improve defense acquisition and business operations, the NDAA seeks to strengthen accountability and streamline the process of getting our warfighters the equipment, training, and resources they need to succeed.”

“I want to thank Senator Jack Reed, the Committee’s outstanding ranking member,” McCain said.  “Throughout this process, it was a pleasure to work with Jack and all of my colleagues on what was a truly bipartisan process—one that can make this Congress proud and, more importantly, that is worthy of the service and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform.”

“I salute Chairman McCain’s leadership in maintaining the Committee’s tradition of bipartisan cooperation in support of our Armed Forces,” said Senator Reed.  “We still have our work cut out for us, but we made some real progress on a number of key issues.  This markup is an important step in meeting the goal of both Democrats and Republicans to get our troops the resources they need to meet a variety of pressing security challenges.  It invests in much needed readiness to allow our fighting men and women to be properly trained and equipped for a wide range of threats.  But ultimately, a strong national defense and a strong economy both depend on Congress equitably resolving the Budget Control Act spending caps and sequestration, which is outside this Committee’s jurisdiction.  Leaders from both parties must work together to take a balanced approach to improving the management and stewardship of U.S. taxpayer dollars that will help make our nation more secure.”

A summary of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 is available here.