I voted “Yes” on H.R. 3979, the Carl Levin and Howard P. ‘Buck’ McKeon National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2015.

This annual bill would authorize vital funding and mission authorities that will address the essential Congressional responsibilities of funding our Armed Forces and supporting our servicemen and women at home and abroad.  This bill prohibits a new Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process from being authorized or carried out in 2015, which will ensure that Rome Lab, the Eastern Air Defense Sector (EADS), and the Rome Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) site are upheld here in upstate New York.  In addition, this bill includes a provision that will ensure that Congress maintains oversight of any proposals that could affect the workforce or missions at DFAS, which is the direct result of efforts I have been actively engaged in throughout the year.

The bill authorizes a well-deserved raise for our troops and takes further steps toward reducing the rates of military sexual assault and suicide amongst our military and veteran populations.  I am especially pleased that this bill includes a provision I authored to assist small businesses by reforming reverse auctions within the Department of Defense to provide a more level playing field for businesses of all sizes and save taxpayer dollars.  In addition, this bill includes language that I have worked on that recognizes the unique skills and value that our Reserve components can provide in defense of our critical infrastructure against cyber-attacks and the need to move forward with the establishment of National Guard Cyber Protection Teams that would be able to respond to emergencies involving an attack or natural disaster impacting critical computer networks. 

I voted in favor of this bill in order to continue to support our nation’s service members and veterans, enhance our national security, and maintain my commitment to our vital assets throughout upstate New York.

The bill was approved by a bipartisan vote of 300 – 119.