Young Votes to Support Troops, Modernize Response to Global Threats
WASHINGTON – Last night, U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) voted in favor of the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The bill passed the Senate 83-11 and will now head to the President’s desk to be signed into law.
The NDAA is the annual legislative vehicle that authorizes all programs and spending for the Department of Defense (DoD). Young, a U.S. Naval Academy graduate and Marine who serves on the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, worked on provisions of the legislation that will modernize our military and respond to threats from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
“At a time of increasing threats and heightened national security challenges, this critical bill takes big steps in putting the United States on a better trajectory to out-compete the Chinese Communist Party, invest in a 21st Century Arsenal of Democracy, and provide our brave men and women in uniform with the support they deserve.
“Xi Jinping and the Chinese Communist Party are telegraphing their regional and global ambitions, and this bill will help us better deter and defend against the CCP’s increasingly aggressive behavior, including through Senate Foreign Relations Committee provisions incorporated in the bill to reinforce the security of Taiwan.
“Finally, I am glad that the bill contains a consensus, bipartisan version of the BURMA Act, which will support the Burmese people in their time of need, push the Administration to impose new sanctions on those committing horrific human rights abuses, and ensure that the whole of the U.S. government is working together to restore democracy in Burma. I am grateful for the continued work and advocacy of Indiana’s Burmese community on this important issue,” said Senator Young.
As passed, the NDAA provides our troops a 4.6 percent pay increase and proposes a 12 percent increase over last year’s military budget, which will help support our military during the worst inflation in decades.
The bill also makes critical investments in our nation’s industrial base to ensure that our military is equipped for future fights and to backfill the supply of munitions that have been provided to Ukraine to defend against Russia’s invasion.
Senator Young secured a number of key priorities in the legislation.
Senator Young’s provisions in the NDAA:
The retirement of Air Force A-10 fighter jets will clear the way for the 122nd Fighter Wing in Fort Wayne to transition to the F-16 fighter, better equipping it for future fights and ensuring the Wing is well-positioned for future decisions regarding the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
Bipartisan Burma provisions will support the efforts of the National Unity Government to reform Burma’s constitution, support the restoration of the legitimate government, and hold the Burmese military and its international backersaccountable for their crimes.
Hypersonic weapon research reporting requirements build upon a proposal submitted by Senator Young to the Armed Services Committee that will ensure thatacademic and private-sector partners are not overlooked in the DOD’s efforts to field an effective hypersonic weapon. Indiana is a national leader in this research, through entities like Purdue University, the University of Notre Dame, and Rolls-Royce.
The Great Lakes Winter Commerce Act will ensure the Coast Guard is adequately tracking icy conditions on the Great Lakes, working with Great Lakes stakeholders, and resourcing the acquisition of new, capable icebreakers.