On Friday, the House passed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018.  The vote was 344 to 81.  The bill covers the wide range of programs and activities carried out by the Department of Defense and portions of the Department of Energy.  This year, the bill focuses on beginning to rebuild our military and reform the Pentagon.

Nothing is more important than ensuring that the men and women who serve are fully supported with the best equipment, in the best shape, with the best training that our nation can provide.  Even on routine training missions and routine deployments, the men and women who serve are risking their lives for us. 

The NDAA provides our troops with the full 2.4 percent pay raise, to which they are entitled to under the law – the biggest in eight years.  It beefs up missile defense at a time when those threats continue to grow.  It increases end strength to provide our services the personnel they need to complete the missions we assign them.  It boosts Navy ship and aircraft depot maintenance and readiness while also including additional funds for the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force operations and maintenance.  The bill also makes major reforms in acquisition and services contracting.  

In addition, this bill works to support our military families by ensuring that they get appropriate inpatient care in Medical Treatment facilities located outside the United States, for example.

With all that we are able to achieve in this bill, there is still much to do to ensure our military is properly manned, trained, and equipped.  I look forward to continuing our work to ensure this bill moves forward with the focus on the men and women in uniform.

I am grateful for those who serve and inspire us – the men and women who are counting on us.

To learn more about how the NDAA affects Sheppard Air Force Base, Bell Helicopter, and Pantex in our local area click here.

Sincerely,