WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., today voted for the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2020. As a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Wicker helped craft the legislation, which passed the Senate with broad bipartisan support.

“The NDAA is a vitally important bill because there is no greater responsibility than to provide for the national defense of our country,” Wicker said. “This bill increases funding for our military to undo the damage of sequestration, continues the push to a 355-ship Navy to defend our interests around the globe, and provides our troops a well-deserved pay raise. The policies included in this legislation will help our military to counter growing and evolving threats worldwide and support the industrial base and military families at home.”

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;
• Enact Wicker’s Maritime Administration Authorization and Enhancement Act to reauthorize the Maritime Administration and strengthen programs vital to its mission and national security;
• Approve Wicker’s Maritime SAFE Act to combat  illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing;
• 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.