WASHINGTON, DC – In an effort to support our troops and keep Americans safe, the U.S. Senate today voted 85-13 to approve 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. 

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. 

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 to pass a bipartisan NDAA that supports our troops and safeguards our nation.  The NDAA also includes much-needed investments in readiness, modernization, and shipbuilding funding.  It continues vital work being done in Rhode Island to accelerate innovation and advance the next generation of submarines and undersea technologies.  These systems are essential to our national security, and I will continue working to ensure we can build the next generation of submarines to maintain America’s advantage in undersea warfare,” said Senator Reed. 

“With the help of our colleagues, Chairman McCain and I worked through a number of issues in this bill on a bipartisan basis,” Reed continued.  “However, I regret that several key issues were unable to be fully debated and voted on because of objections or a lack of unanimous consent on the floor.  Many of these issues are of vital importance to our military.  While this bill is not perfect, it authorizes essential funding and makes several needed reforms.  We must continue working on a bipartisan basis in conference to strengthen this measure and ensure our forces have the right tools to conduct operations and help our allies combat violent extremists.” 

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
  • Make 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 separate versions of the bill have been approved by both the full U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives, the two bills are headed for a conference committee, where they must be reconciled.  As the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator Reed is expected to be among the conferees charged with negotiating a final version of the bill.