Washington, D.C. - December 3, 2016 (The Ponder News) -- Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-Texas) voted Friday for the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (S. 2943), which boosts support for America’s military, enhances national defense capabilities and provides the biggest pay raise for U.S. service members in six years. The bill authorizes the $619 billion in funding necessary to restore adequate readiness for our armed forces, protect our homeland from rapidly evolving threats and provide our troops with the resources they need to be successful.
“The Constitution demands that the federal government prioritize our national security, and the legislation we’ve passed today does just that. In America, we’re blessed with so many freedoms thanks our brave men and women in uniform. We must always ensure they’re equipped with the best training and defense capabilities in the world, and that they receive the pay they rightfully deserve for their selfless service to our country,” Ratcliffe said.
The 2017 National Defense Authorization Act includes the following notable provisions:
• Increases pay for service members by 2.1 percent and bars the president from blocking this raise
• Prevents Guantanamo Bay detainee transfers to the United States.
• Combats terrorism and radical Islamist extremists
• Reverses the drawdown on troop numbers
• Strengthens support for Israel with funds for Israeli cooperative missile defense including the Iron Dome
• Prioritizes cyber defense capabilities
Ratcliffe also praised the bill’s exclusion of any authorization for another round of base realignment and closure (BRAC) at the Red River Army Depot in Texarkana. This is consistent with his own amendment passed in the House earlier this year to prevent funds from going to BRAC, and it protects more than 5,000 jobs in the region that provide critical readiness capabilities to the Army.
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