Today, Rep. John R. Carter (R-TX-31) supported and the House passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2018 (FY18).  The bill supports a total budget of $695.9 billion for defense programs and provides for many specific provisions vital to Fort Hood and all of Central Texas, including an increase in troops, accelerated ground combat vehicle modernizations, remanufactured and new Apache helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles.  The FY18 NDAA also provides for a 2.4 percent pay increase for our military men and women, the largest increase since 2010.

“Today I proudly supported legislation that will move us a step closer to providing the resources our nation needs to ensure our national security,” said Rep. Carter. “The past Administration launched an all-out assault on our military, leaving us with depleted troop strength and out of date resources and equipment. The FY18 NDAA lays the groundwork to reverse the detrimental impact of the past eight years. Through this bill, we are providing the tools necessary to keep America safe and secure.”

For 56 years, the NDAA has been the primary tool in which Congress executes its Constitutional obligation to “provide for the common defense.” The NDAA for FY18 does even more. This bill provides the pathway to better equip, supply, and trains our troops; care for the men and women of our military and their families; and it sets national security policy that will strengthen our position in an increasingly dangerous world.

Bill Highlights Important to the Army and Fort Hood:

Restores Military Readiness

·       Increases the size of the Military, including increasing the Army by 10,000, the Army national Guard by 4,000 and the Army Reserve by 3,000.

·       Provides at 2.4 percent pay raise for our troops, the largest increase since 2010.

·       Enhances benefits for service members and their families, including protection quality healthcare, increased relocation resources for members and their families

·       Enhances prosecutorial tools to combat sexual harassment, including nonconsensual sharing of intimate images

·       Calls for increased investments in equipment and facilities maintenance

Confronts Aggression and Addresses Growing Threats

·       Provides for defense against threats in Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, Ukraine, Russia, Asia, and Africa

·       Provides for enhances counterterrorism tools

·       Increases investments in cyber warfare and cyber operations

·       Enhances missile defense

·       Provides resources for our allies, including Israel

·       Continues the restrictions against transferring detainees from Guantanamo Bay to the United States. Prohibits transfer of the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo back to Cuba

Rebuilding

·       Authorizes key investments to accelerate fielding of new, more effective, lethal and reliable equipment. (specifically requested by Rep. John Carter)

·       Modernizes Armored Brigade Combat Teams (ABCTs) to ensure continued ground combat overmatch, a priority for Fort Hood

o   Authorizes $1 Billion for 85 M1A2SEPv3 Abrams tanks

o   Authorizes $896.8 million for 93 M2A4 Bradley fighting vehicles

o   Authorizes $194.4 million for 51 HURCULES improved recovery vehicles, the primary since recovery vehicle in ABCTs.

o   Provides for the Armored Multipurpose Vehicle program.

o   Provides for the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle Program.

o   Directs the Secretary of the Army to provide a long-term investment strategy that sufficiently funds improvements and needed modernization for Army Ammunition Plants to help improve safety and capacity.

·       Accelerates modernization of Army rotorcraft for the Active and Reserve components

·       Increases funding for UH-60M Blackhawks, AH-64E Apaches, and CH-47F chinook helicopters

o   $100 million for 5 UH-60Ms (Blackhawks) for the Army National Guard

o   $274.4 million for 8 AH-64Es (Apaches)

o   $108 million for 4 CH-47F Block Is (Chinooks)

o   $246.5 million for 4 MH-47Gs

o   $16.7 million for 3 UH-60Vs

·       Authorizes an additional $348 million for 116 double V-hull Stryker combat vehicles

For more detailed information and full text of the House passed FY18 NDAA, please visit: https://armedservices.house.gov/hearings-and-legislation/ndaa-national-defense-authorization-act

Rep. Carter represents Texas District 31, which includes Fort Hood, the largest active duty armored military installation in the free world. He serves as Chairman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Appropriations, co-chairman of the Congressional Army Caucus, is on the Subcommittee for Commerce, Justice and Science and the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.

###