Senate Armed Services Committee Advances $602 Billion Defense Bill

Press Release

Today the Senate Armed Services Committee approved 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. This marks the 54th consecutive year that the Committee has come together on a bipartisan basis to advance a defense policy bill.

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. The bill also includes significant Goldwater-Nichols reforms to the civilian and military organizations of the Department of Defense.

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 toward passage of a bipartisan NDAA that supports our troops and safeguards our nation. Growing demands have been placed upon our military, and our troops deserve a budget and policies to match their extraordinary courage and sacrifice," said Senator Reed. "While I do not support every provision in this bill, it makes important investments in readiness and modernization and includes several needed reforms. The NDAA also includes much-needed shipbuilding funding and continues vital work being done in Rhode Island to advance the next generation of submarines and undersea technologies. Congress must work on a bipartisan basis to ensure our forces have the right tools to conduct operations and help our allies combat violent extremists. Advancing this bill is a significant step toward achieving that objective."

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