Ayotte Helps Lead Effort to Ensure Ground Troops Have Close Air Support They Need

Press Release

The Senate Armed Services Committee today approved its version of the Fiscal Year 2016 defense authorization bill, which includes more than thirty provisions authored by U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH). Working with Chairman John McCain (R-AZ), Senator Ayotte helped lead the effort to include provisions that would prohibit the retirement of any additional A-10s before December 31, 2016. Ayotte also worked successfully to include language highlighting Iran's ICBM program and pressing the administration to provide information on that program that was due in January. In addition, she worked to include provisions that would renew prohibitions on the transfer of Guantanamo Bay detainees to the United States and prohibit the construction and modification of facilities in the United States for purpose of housing Guantanamo Bay detainees.

After the markup, Ayotte said, "When our ground troops and special operators are pinned down by enemy fire and calling for help, our nation has a responsibility to send the very best close air support possible - and the defense bill reflects that commitment by preventing the premature retirement of the A-10 for the next year. Retiring the A-10 before an equally capable replacement is fully operational would result in additional and unnecessary American casualties in future conflicts. The Air Force should listen to our ground troops and end its efforts to send our nation's best close air support aircraft to the boneyard. If the Air Force persists, I will continue to do all I can to oppose that effort and to ensure our ground troops have the close air support they need to accomplish their missions and return home safely to their families.

"In addition, I am pleased that the defense bill includes language pushing the administration to provide requested information to Congress about Iran's ICBM program. As Iran has negotiated with the United States, it has continued to advance its ICBM program, which poses a grave threat to the U.S. and our allies.

"Finally, the defense bill contains tough provisions I worked to include that would prevent the transfer of Guantanamo detainees to the U.S., force the administration to be more transparent with the American people regarding the nature of the detainees remaining at Guantanamo, and help prevent international transfers that are contrary to American national security interests and undermine the safety of Americans."
The defense bill now awaits consideration by the full Senate later this year.

HIGHLIGHTS OF AYOTTE PROVISIONS INCLUDED IN SASC-PASSED FY 2016 NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT:

Supporting Our Ground Troops by Preventing the Premature Retirement of the A-10

The defense bill approved today by the Senate Armed Services Committee includes language that prohibits the Air Force from retiring, preparing to retire, or placing in storage or on backup aircraft inventory status any A-10 aircraft before December 31, 2016. The legislation would also prohibit any significant reductions in A-10 unit manning levels before that date. The legislation would also require the Secretary of the Air Force to commission an independent assessment of the required capabilities or mission platform to eventually replace the A-10 and its uniquely effective close air support capabilities.

The committee report language on the A-10 highlights its deployment to Iraq and Syria to fight the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), as well as the A-10s deployment to Europe. The report language expresses the committee's view that the premature divestment of the A-10 would incur "unacceptable risk in the capacity and readiness of the combat air forces without a suitable replacement available."

Opposing Iran's ICBM Program

Continuing her efforts to draw attention to threat posed by Iran's intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) program, Senator Ayotte included language in the NDAA that expresses the Committee's concerns about Iran's ICBM program and presses the administration to submit a report on Iran's ICBM program that was due in January.

In February, Iran successfully launched the Safir long-range missile system, which experts believe can help Iran achieve an ICBM capability. Last year, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said, "We judge that Iran would choose a ballistic missile as its preferred method of delivering nuclear weapons..." Despite that fact, according to public reports, ICBMs have not been on the table during the P5+1 negotiations with Iran regarding their nuclear program.

Guantanamo Bay

Senator Ayotte helped lead efforts to include key provisions in the defense bill passed by the Senate Armed Services Committee related to Guantanamo Bay. She worked successfully to include provisions that would renew prohibitions on the transfer of Guantanamo Bay detainees to the United States and prohibit the construction and modification of facilities in the United States for purpose of housing Guantanamo Bay detainees. She also worked successfully to include language that would reinstate tougher standards for the international transfer of Guantanamo detainees. Additionally, Senator Ayotte included an amendment that would prohibit the transfer of any detainees to Yemen. She also included an amendment that increases transparency for the American people by requiring an unclassified report detailing the terrorist affiliations of Guantanamo detainees and their previous terrorist activities against Americans and our allies.

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