WASHINGTON, DC – Today the Senate Armed Services Committee approved the Fiscal Year 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).  The FY17 NDAA authorizes approximately $543 billion for national defense programs as well as an additional $59 billion for overseas contingency operations.  This marks the 54th consecutive year that the Committee has come together on a bipartisan basis to advance a defense policy bill.

The NDAA includes a number of key provisions that were championed by U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), the Ranking Member of the Committee, to enhance national security, support our servicemembers, and cut bureaucracy and wasteful spending by redirecting almost $3 billion to improve military readiness.  The bill contains a 1.6 percent pay raise for our troops and makes major reforms in several critical areas including military health care and the military justice system.  The bill also includes significant Goldwater-Nichols reforms to the civilian and military organizations of the Department of Defense.

Reed also helped include key funding for the Navy’s modernization efforts – including submarine construction – and policies designed to strengthen our cybersecurity defenses, improve readiness, and prepare for evolving and emerging threats around the globe.  The NDAA also continues to prepare a funding mechanism for the Ohio-class Replacement Program.

“I am pleased to work with Chairman McCain and our colleagues toward passage of a bipartisan NDAA that supports our troops and safeguards our nation.  Growing demands have been placed upon our military, and our troops deserve a budget and policies to match their extraordinary courage and sacrifice,” said Senator Reed.  “While I do not support every provision in this bill, it makes important investments in readiness and modernization and includes several needed reforms.  The NDAA also includes much-needed shipbuilding funding and continues vital work being done in Rhode Island to advance the next generation of submarines and undersea technologies.  Congress must work on a bipartisan basis to ensure our forces have the right tools to conduct operations and help our allies combat violent extremists.  Advancing this bill is a significant step toward achieving that objective.”

A number of Rhode Island-related projects and priorities are included in this bipartisan defense legislation now set to be considered by the Senate, such as:

•  $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.

•  $1.5 billion to fully support the Ohio-class Replacement Program

•  $271.7 million for the DDG-1000 destroyer program

•  $136.3 million to accelerate undersea warfare applied research, an increase of $10 million over the President’s budget request

•  $20 million for the construction of a new headquarters facility for the Rhode Island Army and Air National Guard

•  $500,000 for the Rhode Island Army National Guard training range at Camp Fogarty

•  $10 million for the procurement of additional towed array sensor systems, a priority for the Navy

•  $5 million in Impact Aid for schools with military dependent children with severe disabilities

•  Made the Rapid Innovation Fund program, the National Guard State Partnership Program, and DOD’s Small Business Innovation Research program permanent

•  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 permanently extends the Special Survivor Indemnity Allowance; authorizes $33.5 billion for the Defense Health Program; and requires the DOD to provide recruits with athletic footwear that is made in America.  The bill also clarifies the applicability of certain employment rights for military technicians, establishes an independent National Commission on Military, National, and Public service to review the Selective Service process, and makes numerous enhancements to military whistleblower protections.

Now that it has been voted out of committee, the NDAA must be considered and voted on by the full U.S. Senate, which is expected to begin debate on the bill in the coming weeks.