Rooney Votes to Support Troops, Increased Pay for Military

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Tom Rooney (R-FL) issued the following statement in response to the House’s passage of the conference report for the National Defense Authorization Act :

“Providing our military with a bigger budget improves their ability to protect our freedoms here at home,” Rooney said. “This bill also shows our servicemembers we appreciate their sacrifice and provides them with the highest pay increase in nearly a decade.”

The John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) authorizes over $708 billion in funding for the U.S. military, with $639 billion in the base budget and $69 billion in Overseas Contingency Operations funding.

The NDAA also authorizes funding for 77 F-35 fighter jets, a top priority for Congressman Rooney. Earlier this month, Rooney successfully secured increased funding for F-35 aircraft, ensuring the men and women in our military have the latest and greatest technology to defeat and deter our adversaries.

Lockheed Martin recently announced a tentative deal with the Pentagon to purchase the next lot of F-35 aircraft. 

The NDAA also includes a pay raise of 2.6 percent for servicemembers and continues our strong commitment to Israel’s security by authorizing $500 million for the co-development of missile defense systems with our ally.

“A vote for this bill was a vote for all of our servicemembers — the men and women here at home or overseas who risk their lives to defend America — and I was proud to support them today,” Rooney said.