[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 130 (Wednesday, August 1, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S5528]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BILL

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, before we adjourn this week, the Senate 
will also finalize the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2019. Once we pass the conference report this week, 
this important legislation will head to the President's desk to become 
law, and we will have fulfilled one of this body's most solemn 
responsibilities.
  The NDAA builds on the progress we made earlier this year in the 
bipartisan budget agreement, which provided for the largest year-on-
year increase in funding for American Armed Forces in 15 years. This 
legislation authorizes programs that will contribute to the combat 
readiness of America's military to meet emerging and persistent global 
threats. It helps to ensure that our servicemembers and their families 
will receive the full support of a grateful Nation. When we pass the 
fiscal year 2019 National Defense Appropriations Act, which funds these 
programs, we will have gone yet further in meeting our commitments to 
an all-volunteer force.
  The NDAA has global and nationwide significance, but it also has 
tremendous local importance. In representing the Commonwealth of 
Kentucky, I know just how significant an impact this legislation will 
have on some of our Nation's finest.
  At Fort Campbell, members of the 101st Airborne Division and a number 
of Special Operations units will benefit from the authorization of new 
investments in their training facilities.
  At Fort Knox, the Army's Human Resources Command and Recruiting 
Command will receive the support they need to modernize officer 
personnel management, and the post will receive much needed certainty 
and authority for its energy savings program.
  At the Blue Grass Army Depot, critical work to support chemical 
weapons demilitarization will continue because this bill authorizes the 
resources necessary to conduct safe operations.
  Servicemembers will benefit from a well-deserved raise in military 
pay and expanded authority for military family housing and education.
  So none of my colleagues need to look far to find examples of how the 
needs of our servicemembers will be met by the legislation before us.
  Our colleagues on the Armed Services Committee carefully developed 
it. It reflects more than 300 amendments, and it rightly bears the name 
of our colleague and friend John McCain. I know he is proud of all this 
legislation accomplishes for our men and women in uniform.
  I also thank the senior Senator from Oklahoma and the ranking member 
from Rhode Island for steering this bill through conference. I look 
forward to sending it to the President's desk this week.

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