Congressman Bishop on Funding Our National Security

Statement

Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) supported the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conference report for Fiscal Year 2016. The agreement authorizes $515 billion, in discretionary base budget authority, including roughly $496.4 billion for the Department of Defense base budget and $18.6 billion for defense-related activities of the Department of Energy. However, the report would also authorize more than $89.2 billion for DOD overseas contingency operations. The Administration requested $50.9 billion. The report identifies the difference of roughly $38.3 billion as discretionary budget authority in support of base budget requirements.

"Passage of the FY 2016 National Defense Authorization Act protects our bases, strengthens our military capabilities, and brings about a collective sigh of relief from service members and their families who have sacrificed so much to receive so little in return. Among our highest priorities as a nation should be the defense of our citizens and the values and freedoms we hold dear and the support and protection of those who so bravely put their lives on the line. Mission and family readiness at Fort Benning, the Marine Corps Logistics Base in Albany, Robins Air Force Base, and other bases in Georgia are vital to our national defense and to our communities, realities that this bill underscores in a very prominent fashion."

Source