Senate Approves FY 18 Defense Authorization Bill

Press Release

This evening, the Senate passed the Fiscal Year 2018 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), legislation that lays out the policy and priorities for our military. Congress has passed this bill every year for 55 years. U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the chairman of the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, released the following statement after the Senate passed the bill by a vote of 89 to 8:

"Whether answering the threats from turbulent regions of the world or providing help here at home, our military has a tough job to do. The bipartisan vote in the Senate today proves this legislation is a strong product that will provide our men and women in uniform with the resources they count on to carry out their missions. The Senate's FY 18 NDAA contains provisions to improve our military's readiness, strengthen missile defense, and stay ahead of the challenges of tomorrow, all of which are critical to keeping the American people safe and secure."

The Senate's FY 18 NDAA represents the combined efforts of members from both sides of the aisle. It was approved unanimously by the Senate Armed Services Committee. In June, all 27 of the committee's members voted to approve the bill out of committee.

Key provisions of the Senate's FY 18 NDAA

Restoring Military Readiness

Authorizes over $30 billion to address unmet requirements identified by the military services and our combatant commanders, and provides additional resources to address emerging threats.
Increases the size of the active-duty force above President Trump's request by 6,000.
Staying Ahead of the Threats of Tomorrow

Authorizes more than $500 million in additional funding to support the Department of Defense's Third Offset Strategy and improve U.S. military technological superiority, including:
Nearly $300 million to enhance the development of hypersonic -- and directed --energy weapons. These were two key areas of focus when Senator Fischer chaired the Emerging Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee last Congress.
Prioritizing Cybersecurity

Adds more than $700 million for cyber-related requirements, including:
$220 million to improve readiness and training for cyber forces.
$20 million to bolster efforts begun during Senator Fischer's tenure as chairman of the Emerging Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee to improve the resiliency of weapons systems to withstand cyberattack.
Requiring the Department of Defense to undertake the first-ever Cyber Posture Review, which will evaluate the military's policy and capabilities in the cyber domain.
Other provisions provided by the Strategic Forces Subcommittee, which Senator Fischer chairs:

Strengthening Missile Defense

Adds an additional $200 million to improve the Ground-based Midcourse Defense -- or GMD -- system, including:
$80 million for the development of more capable boosters;
$100 million to improve what our military calls "discrimination," the ability of the system to distinguish between hostile warheads and decoys or other debris in space.
Meeting the Needs of Space Operations

Adds over $700 to address unfunded needs to space operations, including:
More than $100 million to expand the development and testing of advanced prototypes in response to the urgent operational needs of our warfighters, and an additional $35 million to expedite the development of advanced, jam-resistant, GPS receivers.
Modernizing America's Nuclear Forces

Fully supports ongoing efforts to modernize our nuclear forces and the Department of Energy's nuclear enterprise.
Provides nearly $200 million additional funding to help address the backlog of deferred maintenance activities at our nuclear facilities. More than half of these facilities are over 40 years old, and roughly 30% date back to the era of the Manhattan Project.

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