The world is looking to America for leadership. We must have a comprehensive strategy to confront both the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) as well as Vladimir Putin’s aggression in Ukraine. A key component of any such strategy is the military power of the United States and the resolve to project that power when necessary.

The “National Defense Authorization Act” (NDAA) offers military leaders a blueprint for maintaining a strong defense that can protect our national security interests at home and abroad. And yet, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has not brought this fundamental piece of legislation before the Senate for consideration.

The Senate Armed Services Committee approved the Fiscal Year 2015 NDAA three months ago. As a member of the committee, I worked to include several provisions in the measure to strengthen Mississippi’s role in equipping and otherwise supporting our men and women in uniform. These provisions would preserve U.S. military might by:

• Preventing cuts to the National Guard. The Obama Administration has proposed to reduce the U.S. Army to pre-World War II levels and restructure its aviation program. An amendment I successfully sponsored with Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) would stave off sweeping cuts to the National Guard, including drastic cuts in troop strength and the transfer of Apache attack helicopters out of Army National Guard units. Our amendment would delay the changes for at least one year while an independent commission develops recommendations on force structure and size. Units like Mississippi’s 155th Heavy Brigade Combat Team, a well-trained ready reserve force, should not be jeopardized by shortsighted and ill-considered action.

• Safeguarding taxpayer dollars. Keesler Air Force Base has been recognized as one of the country’s top air bases, yet there have been repeated attempts to relocate 10 of its C-130J transport planes. I continue to demand an accounting of how this move would produce purported financial savings and what the implications are for our forces’ intra-airlift capability. The Defense Authorization approved by the committee would provide these answers by requiring the Air Force to submit a certified report to Congress at least 60 days before any aircraft are transferred.

• Modernizing our amphibious warships. A robust amphibious fleet puts potential adversaries on notice that America’s fighting forces can respond rapidly to threats. These ships are incredibly versatile – utilized for everything from heavy combat to disaster relief and humanitarian crises. However, our fleet is significantly smaller than the number needed to perform required missions, and many of the ships are near the end of their service lives. NDAA includes an amendment I sponsored to authorize the construction of a twelfth LPD-17 warship. The men and women who defend our national interests in perilous corners of the globe deserve nothing less than world-class hardware when carrying out their missions.

NDAA also prohibits a Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) in 2015, offering continuity to bases, installations, and units around the country. A BRAC round would be an inefficient and ill-timed way to realize savings in defense. Our military presence must remain resilient as dangerous groups like ISIS and instability in the former Soviet bloc put U.S. interests at risk.

NDAA is the framework for ensuring that America’s troops continue to be the most formidable fighting force in the world. By passing NDAA for 2015, the Senate Armed Services Committee and the House of Representatives have done their parts to extend a legacy that has earned bipartisan support for the past 52 years. It is time for the full Senate to follow suit. Majority Leader Reid should bring it to the Senate floor without further delay.