Both Senators Johnny Isakson and David Perdue voted on Wednesday in favor of the John S. McCain 2019 National Defense Authorization Act – this year’s annual defense bill (NDAA). The measure ultimately passed by a vote of 87-10.
The bill authorizes $616.9 billion in discretionary funding, $69 billion in overseas contingency operations and $8.3 billion in other defense-related activities. In total, it adds up to $716 billion and authorizes personnel numbers of 487,500 in the Army; 335,400 in the Navy; 186,100 in the U.S. Marine Corps; and 329,100 in the U.S. Air Force.
“Congress has again stepped up to support our warfighters and their families with the resources they need to protect America and our national interests. Our Georgia military installations will see the benefits of this legislation firsthand, and I’m proud that we have passed this critical legislation, and that we have a president who is eager to sign it into law,” said Isakson.
Contained in this year’s NDAA was the largest pay increase for active-duty troops in nearly 10 years. It also authorizes a number of measures that will help strengthen Georgia’s military installations.
Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base in St. Marys will be receiving $3.2 billion worth of Columbia-class submarines, replacing the current Ohio-class fleet. More funding is also included for the Department of Defense to improve cyber capabilities and cybersecurity training. This will give a boost to Fort Gordon, home to the Army’s Cyber Center of Excellence. An additional $65 million was also pegged for “re-wining” the A-10 aircraft, some of which are based at Moody Air Force Base.
The C-130, based out of Robins Air Force Base and built at the Lockheed-Martin facility in Marietta, also will be receiving an additional $129 million for engine upgrades and $154 million for propeller upgrades.
“Georgia’s military community plays a central role in fulfilling President Trump’s National Defense Strategy. This defense bill delivers the tools we need to protect Americans at home and abroad. The world is more dangerous today than any time in my lifetime,” said Perdue. “Our women and men in uniform need our full support as they defend our nation against evolving threats around the globe. President Trump is committed to modernizing our military capabilities and rebuilding our armed forces after the previous administration’s disinvestment. This year’s defense bill includes the critical resources our President needs to carry out that mission.”
There were only 10 nay votes in opposition of the overwhelmingly passed bipartisan bill. The 10 nay votes also were bipartisan. Sen. Mike Lee (R- Utah) voted against, likely over concerns regarding due process for detainees. Sen. Marco Rubio (R- Fla.) also voted against. Rubio noted he has never before voted against the NDAA but did so in response to his concerns over the Chinese company ZTE and the restrictions that had been included in the NDAA being pulled out. Rubio called the deal the Trump administration made with China over ZTE “ill-conceived” and earlier this month said “ZTE should be put out of business. There is no ‘deal’ with a state-directed company that the Chinese government and Communist Party uses to spy and steal from us where Americans come out winning.”
The stripping out of the ZTE language was another win for Perdue – who earlier in the summer helped broker a deal regarding the JSTARS plans at Warner Robins, angering Rep. Austin Scott (R- GA 8). In the ZTE case, Perdue warned that Senate pressing the ZTE issue could undercut the Trump administration’s negotiations with China over the North Koreans.
Perdue hasn’t been in Washington long but as a close ally of the president, he’s certainly seeing some legislative successes.
