WASHINGTON - Today, Rep. Don Bacon voted with his House colleagues to support the final passage of the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which passed with a bipartisan majority of 310 to 118.

“Each year, the NDAA is a critical part of preserving American military superiority,” said Bacon. “The FY24 NDAA is a victory for our service members and their families who will receive the largest pay increase in 20 years and ensuring that our military is modernized and ready for the threats we face.”

With the recent terror attack in Israel, the ongoing war in Ukraine, and threats from the CCP, the bill is a victory for the American people.

The 2024 NDAA:

· Authorizes $886 billion for national defense including significant investments in the defense industrial base, munitions production, and critical technologies including artificial intelligence, space, autonomous systems, and hypersonic weapons. This amount is consistent with the topline defense discretionary spending agreement as part of the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA)

· Fully funds modernization of the nuclear weapons enterprise to replace aging systems and reverse the dangerous decline in the effectiveness and reliability of America’s nuclear deterrent.

· Authorizes a 5.2 percent pay increase, expands servicemember eligibility for a supplemental basic needs allowance, and improves access to childcare.

· Provides a path back to service for the 8,000 servicemembers discharged for failing to take the COVID-19 vaccine.

The 2024NDAA also includes the following additional legislative provisions championed by Rep. Bacon:

· Authorizes $10 million for USSTRATCOM’s nuclear command, control, and communications (NC3) rapid engineering architecture collaboration hub (REACH) initiative at Offutt AFB.

· Authorizes $41 million to construct a backup electric power “micro-grid” for Offutt AFB.

· Authorizes an increase of $50 million to provide for accelerated integration of SABRE mission capability for the EA-37B Compass Call replacement aircraft.

· Directs the Secretary of Defense to establish a major defense acquisition program for Nuclear Command, Control and Communications.

· Directs the Secretary of Defense to enter into an agreement with a university affiliated research center to study multipolar strategic deterrence.

· Directs the Secretary of the Air Force to provide a future force design for the Department of the Air Force.

· Directs the Secretary of Defense to implement a plan of action to provide air, missile and counter-drone defensive capabilities for Kurdish Peshmerga and Iraqi security forces under frequent attack by Iran and its proxy forces in the region.

· Authorizes a cost-plus contract structure for construction of the first three Sentinel Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) replacement launch facilities.

· Directs the Secretary of Defense to consider the past performance of small-business affiliates during the evaluation and selection of defense contacts.

· Extends the authority of the Secretary of Defense to provide inflation adjustments payments for defense contracts.

“[Providing] for the common defense’ is an essential Constitutional duty of Congress, and this year’s NDAA will strengthen our military which defends our freedoms. The NDAA delivers for America, and for Nebraska’s Second Congressional District,” said Bacon.

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