U.S. Senate Passes $602 Billion Defense Bill

Press Release

In an effort to support our troops and keep Americans safe, the U.S. Senate today voted 85-13 to approve 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.

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.

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 to pass a bipartisan NDAA that supports our troops and safeguards our nation. The NDAA also includes much-needed investments in readiness, modernization, and shipbuilding funding. It continues vital work being done in Rhode Island to accelerate innovation and advance the next generation of submarines and undersea technologies. These systems are essential to our national security, and I will continue working to ensure we can build the next generation of submarines to maintain America's advantage in undersea warfare," said Senator Reed.

"With the help of our colleagues, Chairman McCain and I worked through a number of issues in this bill on a bipartisan basis," Reed continued. "However, I regret that several key issues were unable to be fully debated and voted on because of objections or a lack of unanimous consent on the floor. Many of these issues are of vital importance to our military. While this bill is not perfect, it authorizes essential funding and makes several needed reforms. We must continue working on a bipartisan basis in conference to strengthen this measure and ensure our forces have the right tools to conduct operations and help our allies combat violent extremists."

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