U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Statement on National Defense Authorization Act Senate Passage

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin released the following statement after the Senate passed the compromise FY17 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) today by a vote of 92-7:

“Today, I voted in favor of the defense authorization legislation, which, while an imperfect compromise, makes important investments to strengthen our national security, support our servicemembers and their families, and boost our Made in Wisconsin economy.

“I’m proud to have championed and fought for many provisions in this legislation. My reform to direct the National Academies of Sciences to assist the military in using safer and more environmentally-friendly technologies to properly dispose of munitions will help prevent military sites around the country from being contaminated in the way the Badger Army Ammunition Plant was. I worked across party lines on the Manufacturing Universities Act, which is the basis for a provision included to strengthen engineering programs to better prepare students for our 21st century advanced manufacturing economy. Importantly, this legislation also authorizes more than $11 million for the construction of a new facility at Wisconsin’s Fort McCoy, which is one of the Army’s premier total force training centers.

“I am also pleased that this bill authorizes funding for critical programs that are made in Wisconsin, like the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle produced by Oshkosh Defense. However, it also unfortunately includes misguided reductions to and constraints on the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) program. The NDAA is only a piece of the puzzle when it comes to the LCS, and I will continue my work as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee to fully fund and support this program, which is so critical to our national security and our Wisconsin economy.”