WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, voted to advance the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act to the full Senate. The committee-passed legislation would authorize funding for our armed forces, give greater certainty to military manufacturers and suppliers, and strengthen Mississippi’s contributions to our national defense.

“The legislation passed by the Armed Services Committee would provide for our men and women in uniform and allocate the resources necessary to keep our country safe,” Wicker said. “This bipartisan bill also reflects Mississippi’s priorities by authorizing more funding for shipbuilding, Junior ROTC programs, upgrading our state’s military installations, and improving military housing.”

Among other provisions, the National Defense Authorization Act would:

• Meet the President’s request for $750 billion for national defense;
• Continue the push to build the 355-ship Navy as required by Wicker’s SHIPS Act by authorizing $24.1 billion for shipbuilding;
• Authorize $24 million for Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps programs in support of Wicker’s JROTC Act; and
• Increase pay for members of the military by 3.1 percent, the largest increase in a decade.