Senator Burr Statement on Senate Passage of the National Defense Authorization Act
Statement
Today, the Senate passed the bipartisan, bicameral National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2022. This legislation continues a 61-year tradition of strengthening our national defense, protecting American national security interests, and prioritizing those in uniform and their families.
Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), who voted in favor of the bill, applauded the Senate's passage:
"Today's passage marks an important step in our efforts to enhance our national defense strategy to address evolving 21st century threats," said Senator Burr. "As we continue to counter aggression from our adversaries and recover from the pandemic, this defense spending bill makes significant investments to modernize our Armed Forces, boost our military edge over China and Russia, and prioritize our military families. I'm pleased to support this longstanding commitment to our Armed Forces and I look forward to the President's signature."
Background:
The NDAA for Fiscal Year 2022 passed the Senate by a vote of 88-11. The summary of the bill can be found here and the full text of the bill can be found here. Specifically, the NDAA:
·Provides $768.2 billion for national defense, which includes a $25 billion increase above the President's budget and $266.2 million in military construction projects in North Carolina.
· Prioritizes service members and their families by providing a 2.7 percent pay raise to troops, increasing parental leave to 12 weeks for all service members, improving military health care and housing policies, and supporting access to meaningful employment for military spouses;
· Maintains and enhances our competitive edge over China and Russia by providing $7.1 billion for the Pacific Deterrence Initiative, protecting nuclear modernization programs, extending the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, and reducing foreign reliance on Department of Defense (DOD) acquisition of key supply chain products;
· Accelerates innovation and advances capabilities at the DOD by investing in quantum research and 5G technologies, advancing cyber security initiatives, and enhancing Congressional oversight.
The House of Representatives passed this legislation on December 7, 2021 by a vote of 363-70.
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