Reed, Inhofe Praise Senate Passage of the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act

The United States Senate today passed the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 by a vote of 83-11.

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Jack Reed (D-RI) released the following statement praising Senate passage of the legislation:

“This bipartisan bill strengthens national security by ensuring our military has the resources it needs to defend our nation, deter conflict, and meet a range of evolving security challenges. It takes good care of our men and women in uniform, providing them with a well-earned pay raise and other quality-of-life enhancements. In addition to supporting our warfighters, it invests in America’s workforce, defense manufacturing base, and securing supply chains to ensure America can independently out-compete and out-produce global rivals. The NDAA also strengthens key alliances and partnerships to bolster our own security.

“This year’s NDAA includes targeted investments, needed reforms, and enhanced oversight. It addresses a broad range of pressing issues, from strategic competition with China and Russia, to disruptive technologies like hypersonics, AI, and quantum computing, to modernizing our ships, aircraft, and other equipment

“Naming this bill in honor of Ranking Member Inhofe is a fitting testament to his leadership and partnership on the Armed Services Committee, and his many decades of dedicated service to the people of Oklahoma, our servicemembers, and the nation.”

Ranking Member Jim Inhofe (R-OK) also commented on the bill:

“Throughout my congressional career, I have been grateful to watch Congress put politics aside and vote to pass the National Defense Authorization Act every year. I’ve always said there are two things that we should be doing in Congress: infrastructure and defense. This is the most important bill we do every year and the overwhelming majority of my colleagues agree—that’s why it has become law for 61 years in a row, and this year we are one step closer to the 62nd year. I am especially thankful for the work of Chairman Reed to get this passed—he has worked tirelessly to see this through.

“This year’s NDAA will make our country more secure, gives our military the resources it needs to take on China, Russia and other looming threats and takes care of our troops and their families. Now, as the bill moves to the president’s desk, I look forward to watching this year’s NDAA become law.”

The 62nd annual NDAA supports a total of $857.9 billion in fiscal year 2023 funding for national defense. Within this topline, the legislation authorizes $816.7 billion for the Department of Defense (DOD) and $30.3 billion for national security programs within the Department of Energy (DOE). This $45 billion increase above the President’s budget request will address the effects of global inflation, provide additional security assistance to Ukraine, and accelerate implementation of the National Defense Strategy. Highlights include:

• Providing funding to support a 4.6 percent pay raise for both military servicemembers and the DOD civilian workforce;
• Authorizing funding to ease the impacts of inflation on the force and increases the resources available to support military families;
• Ensuring servicemembers have access to quality housing, including by extending the authority to adjust the basic allowance for housing in high-cost areas;
• Authorizing critical investments in battle force ships, submarines, aircraft, combat vehicles, long-range artillery, and other equipment to maintain our combat advantage;
• Deterring China by increasing our investments in the Pacific Deterrence Initiative and authorizing the Taiwan Enhanced Resilience Act of 2022, which is designed to increase our security cooperation with Taiwan;
• Confronting Russia and supporting Ukraine by authorizing increased funding for the European Deterrence Initiative and the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative;
• Strengthening and securing the national supply chain and supporting the defense industrial base, including temporary authorizations to waive certain restrictions related to contracts for munitions to support Ukraine or to increase the Defense Department's stocks of critical munitions;
• Modernizing our military technology and capabilities, including hypersonic weapons, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, and biotechnologies;
• Authorizing $1 billion for the National Defense Stockpile to acquire rare earths and critical materials required to meet the defense, industrial, and civilian needs of the United States;
• Providing increased funding for military construction;
• Maintaining and modernizing our secure, credible nuclear deterrent;
• Advancing the development of various missile defense programs and systems;
• Strengthening the Department of Defense’s cybersecurity strategy and capabilities.

The NDAA also serves as a legislative vehicle for a number of non-defense authorizations, including several major authorization bills from other committees.

The full text of the FY23 NDAA can be found here.

A summary of the FY23 NDAA can be found here.

The Joint Explanatory Statement for the FY23 NDAA can be found here.