The National Defense Authorization Act
The National Defense Authorization Act continues Democrats’ work to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat al Qaeda and its extremist allies. It fully supports the President’s strategy to strengthen strategic partnerships with key nations like Pakistan and Yemen to help us combat terrorism, and it places a strong emphasis on understanding the recruitment and fundraising tools being used by terrorists and taking the necessary action to stop them. The bill also makes historic investments in nonproliferation programs to keep vulnerable nuclear materials and weapons of mass destruction out of the hands of our enemies.
The National Defense Authorization Act strengthens support for our troops and their families. To make sure our soldiers have the support they need on the battlefield and after they come home, we give our troops a 1.9% pay raise. We also extend TRICARE coverage to dependent children up to age 26, and increase the family separation allowance for our troops whose deployment requires them to live away from their families.
To protect our troops, this bill will invest billions of dollars to ensure our troops have the equipment and armor they need. It will help our commanders cut through red tape and get the equipment they need when they need it. We replace and repair equipment, address current shortfalls, and buy the necessary gear to protect our warriors from IEDs and threats on the battlefield.