Conference Report on S. 2943, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017

Floor Speech

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Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I commend the chairman for his leadership in bringing the 55th consecutive NDAA across the finish line. This legislation includes vital provisions, such as a pay raise for our troops, a fix to the end strength, and it begins to address the readiness crisis that is literally claiming the lives of our men and women in uniform.

A special thank-you goes to my friend, the subcommittee ranking member, Mr. Cooper. He is a pleasure to work with--Roll Tide.

The conference report includes critical provisions resulting from oversight of the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces. For example, regarding the national security space, it enables a rational transition to the end of our reliance on the Russian RD-180 engine. The agreement prioritizes funding for U.S. replacement of the RD-180 engine. It rejects the Air Force strategy to pay for three new launch systems to commercial providers. In fact, the Air Force should only hold its industry day and take no further action until the new administration has a chance to conduct a full cost policy and legal analysis. It gives the Air Force one final opportunity to meet warfighter requirements and bring order to the Department's space-based weather collection program.

Concerning our nuclear forces and nuclear enterprise, the conference report prohibits funding for the administration's misguided proposal to accelerate dismantlement of retired nuclear weapons, authorizes an additional $100 million in funding to help pay for and address the massive infrastructure problems and deferred maintenance backlogs in the NSA, and gives the Air Force one final chance to appropriately prioritize the strategic missile warning system.

Concerning missile defense, the conference report restricts funding for the Army's Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense radar modernization program. The chief wanted more acquisition authority. The bill gives it to him, and I expect him to use it.

I am also proud to see the conference report includes language to repeal the cold war-minded National Missile Defense Act, which sought to limit U.S. missile defense deployments. It provides full funding of the request of our allies in Israel for $600 million for co-development and coproduction of Iron Dome, David's Sling, and Arrow 3.

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