Courtney Welcomes Passage of Bipartisan Defense Spending Agreement

Statement

Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-2), Ranking Member of the House Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee and the only Connecticut member who was a part of the conference negotiations, released the following statement after voting in favor of the revised, bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that abides by new budget caps agreed to in the bipartisan budget agreement signed on Monday by President Obama. The revised NDAA maintains spending levels previously agreed to for Connecticut priorities including submarine and helicopter construction, as well as across-the-board pay raises for service members.

"While completing the NDAA took a little more effort this year, I am proud to have played a key role in getting this important measure across the finish line. The agreement passed today is a strong statement of support for Connecticut's submarine industrial base, anchored by the men and women of Electric Boat, as well as our aerospace industry. The revised NDAA maintains all of the priorities that are critical to our state, and invests wisely in long-term national security priorities, as well as in our military families. As the House Armed Services Committee continues to grapple with a difficult budget climate in the years ahead, I am pleased that the Congressional Budget Office has identified the National Sea-Based Deterrence Fund as a mechanism to realize billions in savings as we move forward with the effort to recapitalize our SSBN fleet," Courtney said.

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