WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today voted in favor of final Senate passage of the “National Defense Authorization Act” (NDAA), H.R. 1735. The legislation provides a number of important reforms for the Defense Department and authorizes vital resources for the nation’s soldiers, veterans, military installations, and defense manufacturing. The Senate passed the bill by a vote of 71-25.

“For the past 53 years, the NDAA has served as a blueprint for America’s defense and national security interests, ensuring that our troops have the resources they need to fulfill their missions,” Wicker said. “I am pleased this proud bipartisan tradition was upheld today. But challenges remain.

“President Obama’s continued threat to veto the defense bill sends the wrong signal to our allies and our enemies about our nation’s commitment to a capable and strong defense. I am also disappointed that many Senate Democrats, minutes after voting in favor of the defense authorization bill, turned around and blocked the spending bill to implement the policies they just approved.”

President Obama has threatened to veto the proposal despite the fact that the NDAA authorizes $612 billion in defense spending – an amount that he requested in his own budget. H.R. 1735 now awaits action by a House-Senate conference committee to resolve differences between the chambers’ bills.

NDAA and defense appropriations would impact Mississippi in the following ways:

• Tupelo: Recognizes the importance of the Army’s Apache helicopters and the Tupelo Army Aviation Support Facility. 

• Columbus/Meridian: Allows student pilots to have adequate training and flying hours at Columbus Air Force Base and Meridian Naval Air Station.

• Starkville: Completes the Army Reserve Center for equipping and training military personnel.

• Gulfport-Biloxi: Supports a new Army National Guard Aviation Depot at the Gulfport-Biloxi Airport, as well as the continued mission of over 11,000 Americans who work at Keesler Air Force Base. 

The bill also includes:

• Equipping U.S. Naval Forces with New Amphibious Ships: Senator Wicker included a provision to authorize $199 million in advance procurement for an additional America-class amphibious assault ship, as well as $80 million in research and development funding for the next generation of amphibious ships. The nation’s current amphibious fleet of 30 ships falls short of Global Combatant Commander requirements, which call for over 50 amphibious ships.

• Ensuring the Vitality of the National Guard: Included are provisions supported by Senator Wicker to maintain National Guard personnel levels and prevent additional Apache helicopters from being transferred away from the Army National Guard. Last year’s defense bill included a provision authorized by Senator Wicker and Senator Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., that created a commission to study the future of the Army. This independent commission is required to make a recommendation on size and force structure to Congress by February 2016.

• Modernizing the Army’s Air Fleet: Senator Wicker succeeded in securing a provision to authorize $187.2 million in procurement for 28 UH-72A Light Utility Helicopters (LUH). These helicopters would be used to replace the Army’s legacy aviation training aircraft.

• Preventing Military Suicide: Includes provisions based on the “Military and Veterans Mental Health Provider Assessment Act of 2015” coauthored by Senator Wicker and Senator Joe Donnelly, D-Ind., requiring the Secretary of Defense to ensure that all primary care and mental health care providers of the Department of Defense receive evidence-based training on the recognition, assessment, and management of individuals at risk for suicide.

• Ensuring Religious Freedom in the Military: Senator Wicker included a provision that encouraged DOD to continue supporting service members’ rights to express sincerely held religious beliefs.