House passes National Defense Spending Bill

In support of the successful 2016 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent (R-PA) submitted his vote to back the nation’s troops and bolster America’s security with proper funding.

The legislation, which passed the House via a bipartisan vote of 270-156, provides
$611.9 billion to fund national defense operations, equal to the
total amount requested by the President and the Pentagon for the 2016 fiscal year.

“This bill is a critical measure to ensure our national security priorities are being met, provide our service members with the support they deserve, and ensure that our military is able to remain trained and equipped to address the numerous threats facing the United States and our allies,” Dent stated.

At its essence, the NDAA authorizes Congress to meet its constitutional responsibility of “providing for the common Defense” by establishing funding and priorities for the Department of Defense (DOD), as well as for certain national security programs managed by the Department of Energy (DOE).

“(The NDAA) meets the needs of all the branches of our Armed Forces as well as the needs of our military personnel and their families,” Dent said. “Most importantly, it aligns funding with priorities and against likely future threats.”

In addition to a better retirement program and higher pay for soldiers, significant components in the bill include funding to combat ISIL, authorization of defensive aid for Ukraine and further support to European Reassurance Initiative programs.