U.S. House of Representatives Passes National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018

WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Rep. Harold "Hal" Rogers (KY-05) applauds the U.S. House of Representatives for passing the fiscal year 2018 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The $688.3 billion bill respresents another promise kept by House Republicans to rebuild the United States military and support our troops. 

"As promised to the American people, we are rebuilding and modernizing our U.S. Armed Forces as an international powerhouse, by better equipping our troops, strengthening counter terrorism efforts and reestablishing confidence with our allied forces," said Congressman Rogers, Chairman Emeritus of the House Appropriations Committee. "At a time when our enemies continue to advance around the globe, the U.S. must remain at the forefront of military readiness and advance technology to strengthen national defense at home and abroad."  

The bill provides $64.6 billion for Overseas Contingency Operations. It authorizes a 2.4% pay raise for U.S. troops, the largest pay increase for service members this decade. It also blocks the misguided attempt to close military medical facilities upon which our deployed troops and their families rely. 

The NDAA also prohibits transferring detainees from Guantanamo Bay to the United States, and from transferring the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay back to Cuba.

Bill Highlights

• The NDAA builds on last year's efforts to increase the size of the military, including increasing the authorized troop levels for the Army by 10,000, the Army National Guard by 4,000 and the Army Reserve by 3,000;
  
  
• Provides $870 million for the Department of Defense's Drug Interdiction and Counter-Drug program, which funds the National Guard's Counter-Drug Program;
  
  
• Prohibits funds from being used for a new Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) round;
  
  
• Includes an increase in funding for the European Deterrence Initiative, allowing for more consistent planning for the Department of Defense and sending a strong message to partners and allies about the U.S. commitment to an enduring presence in Europe;
  
  
• Provides Israel $705 million for co-production and co-development of Israeli missile defense systems; and
  
  
• Fully funds $8 billion for cyber operations, an increase of $1.7 billion, and supports the Department's defensive and offensive cyberspace capabilities.