Washington, DC – U.S. Representative Mike Bost (IL-12) today joined a bipartisan majority in the House of Representatives in passing the Fiscal Year 2018 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The legislation, which sets military policy priorities and determines what types of equipment and weaponry can be purchased, is expected to be passed by the Senate shortly and sent to the President’s desk for his signature.

“This legislation begins the urgently needed rebuilding process after years of hacking away at our defense budget,” said Bost.  “I believe government’s first obligation is protecting the safety and security of the American people.  We can’t keep cutting away at our resources while the threats to American national security continually grow. I am pleased this bill continues to supply and train our troops while also enacting reforms to Department of Defense operations and streamlining bureaucracy.”

Among the bill’s key provisions, NDAA:

• Increases base military pay by 2.4 percent;
• Increases the size of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Army Guard and Reserve, Naval and Air Reserve, and Air Guard;
• Modernizes our nuclear weapons stockpile, missile defense, and military vehicles;
• Supports a defensive and offensive cyberspace strategy;
• Blocks the misguided attempt to close military medical facilities upon which our deployed troops and their families rely;
• Improves the military health care system; and
• Continues funding and support for U.S. military and intelligence operations abroad, including combatting Russia and defeating ISIS.

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