Final FY 2018 Defense Bill Includes Senator Young Priorities Related to Nuclear Modernization, Pentagon Reform, and Naval Readiness
WASHINGTON DC – Yesterday, the United States Senate passed the Conference Report for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes language Senator Todd Young (R-IN) worked to incorporate. Young, who served in the Marine Corps and now serves on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, worked successfully to include language in the Conference Report related to nuclear modernization, Pentagon reform, and naval combat readiness. The NDAA, an essential defense bill that Congress has passed for each fiscal year for more than a half century, now goes to the President for signature.
“The federal government has no higher priority than protecting the American people, and I am pleased this important defense legislation is now on the way to the President for signature,” said Young. “Our nation and our troops confront extraordinary threats, and this legislation will help ensure they have the training and equipment they need to perform their missions successfully and return home safely.”
Young worked successfully to include a provision that requires a comprehensive review of U.S. maritime intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and targeting capabilities.
Young said, “In light of growing Chinese and Russian maritime capabilities, this review will help ensure that the United States retains the naval supremacy necessary to keep vital shipping lanes open, deter aggression, and defend our national security interests.”
He also worked to include language in the Conference Report to urge the Navy and Air Force to more efficiently modernize and sustain the U.S. nuclear deterrent.
Young said, “As we modernize and sustain all three legs of our nuclear triad, I continue to encourage the Air Force and Navy to look for opportunities to integrate efforts to achieve the maximum capability at the lowest cost to the taxpayers.”
Finally, Young also worked to include language in the Conference Report that pushes the Pentagon to implement Government Accountability Office (GAO) recommendations that would improve the Department of Defense’s efficiency and performance, strengthen Congressional oversight, and cut waste.
Young said, “In light of our nation’s finite resources and the growing threats we confront, we must push the Pentagon to adopt commonsense GAO reforms that will cut waste and improve combat capability and capacity. After all, every dollar wasted is a dollar we don’t have to arm, train, and equip our warfighters.”