Press Releases

(Washington, D.C.) – Congressman Larry Bucshon, M.D. (IN-08) released the following statement after voting for the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (H.R. 5515):

“One of the most important responsibilities that the Constitution specifically charges the federal government with is providing for our nation’s defense. The NDAA is how Congress fulfills that responsibility every year, authorizing spending for our troops, weapons systems, national security programs, and military operations. To carry out the mission of protecting our freedoms and ensuring the security of our nation, our armed forces must be fully equipped and prepared. As international threats continue to rise, we must meet the rigorous demands of a fully prepared and well trained military. After years of chronic underfunding, which negatively impacted readiness and unnecessarily put the lives of our service men and women in danger, we’ve begun the slow process of rebuilding our nation’s military capacity and ensuring our troops have the training, tools, and support they need to meet the national security challenges of the 21^st century.”

Background

• Pay raise of 2.6% - largest in nine years
• Increases the size of Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Naval and Air Reserve, and Air Guard
• Invests in missile defense and our nuclear deterrent
• Advances innovative technologies to give our troops the upper hand
• Increases funding for training in each of the Services
• $18.6 billion to begin to rehabilitate and replace worn out Army equipment
• $39.5 billion to begin to overcome the crisis in military aviation by getting more aircraft in the air
• $36.0 billion to restore America’s strength at sea
• $23.3 billion to sustain, repair and rebuild crumbling military buildings and other infrastructure