Congressman Scott Tipton (CO-03) voted today in the U.S. House of Representatives to pass the final National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for 2017. After passing separate versions of the bill, the House and Senate negotiated the differences between the two bills in a conference committee. The final text of the 2017 NDAA was approved by the House-Senate conference committee on November 29, 2016 and passed the full House with a bipartisan vote of 375-34.
The 2017 NDAA authorizes funding for the U.S. military's ongoing engagements in the Middle East, as well as for U.S. troops operating in Europe. The 2.1% pay increase for active duty service members included in the bill marks the largest pay increase for troops in three years. The bill increases base funding for the military by $9 billion over the amount requested by President Obama to stop troop drawdowns and replace outdated equipment. The 2017 NDAA also includes authorization for over $550 million to fund the ongoing destruction of chemical weapons in depots like the one in Pueblo, CO.
"Congress has a responsibility to ensure that our military has the resources it needs to protect the country from its enemies," said Tipton. "We've heard numerous reports from military leaders that our military's current operational readiness is below what it should be. Radical terrorist groups and state sponsors of terror, like Iran, pose very serious threats to our way of life. This year's NDAA gives our troops the resources they need to fight terrorist threats effectively, and it also enforces existing sanctions on Iran."
The 2017 NDAA supports the national security plan put forth by House Republicans as part of its Better Way Agenda. The Better Way Agenda prioritizes the defeat of radical Islamic extremism, protection of U.S. borders, and the prevention of cyber-attacks in the upcoming 115th Congress.
"The Constitution charges Congress with the responsibility to provide for the common defense, and if we ask our men and women in the armed forces to put themselves in harm's way, we owe it to them and their families to ensure they have the pay, benefits, and equipment to carry out their duties effectively," Tipton added. "We must rebuild and restore our nation's military strength and the 2017 NDAA is an effective first step."