Crapo, Risch Support Pay Raise, Protections for U.S. Military in Defense Spending Bill

Washington, D.C. –U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho) today both voted to support the Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to strengthen and build a more efficient and effective Department of Defense (DOD), fulfilling one of Congress’s most serious responsibilities to provide for and protect our nation’s armed forces. 

“As the U.S. continues to face mounting threats from rogue foreign adversaries, Congress must modernize our military to counter and protect against these bad actors,” said Senator Crapo.  “The Fiscal Year 2020 NDAA provides for the common defense of the United States, and supplies the resources needed for our women and men in uniform to conduct their missions in a strong, forceful and efficient manner.  The women and men at Mountain Home Air Force Base and in the Idaho National Guard deserve Congress’s assurance that we will continue to meet their needs to carry out their missions.  The NDAA includes several wins for Idaho DOD facilities and projects, as well as other provisions to preserve and sustain American national security at home and abroad.” 

“It’s important to protect our servicemen and women just as they protect us, which is especially evident today as various nations engage in increasingly aggressive posturing toward the United States,” said Senator Risch.  “This NDAA will modernize our military infrastructure and offer critical assistance to military families, all while providing our troops with the largest pay raise in a decade. I’m proud to support this NDAA and ensure our men and women in uniform, including those serving at the Mountain Home Air Force base, Bayview Navy base, and in the Idaho National Guard, have the resources they need to defend against the most serious international threats.” 

The FY 2020 NDAA includes specific authorized funds for various Idaho projects, including: 

• Site-wide security, cleanup and waste disposal at the Idaho National Laboratory;
• Enhancements to the Idaho Army National Guard’s Orchard Combat Training Area; and
• The Spent Fuel Handling Recapitalization Project at the Naval Reactor Facility. 

Additional topline highlights include: 

• $750 billion in defense-related dollars to meet the National Defense Strategy Commission report goal;
• Advances an international order to counter competition efforts from near-peer adversaries like Russia and China;
• Provisions to decrease threats from rogue regimes like Iran and North Korea;
• Resources to restore the United States’ combat advantage in areas of 5G networks, cybersecurity, hypersonic weapons and missile defense;
• Support for an all-volunteer force, including policies to address sexual misconduct and retaliation against victims, 3.1 percent pay increase for servicemembers, and increased employment opportunities for military spouses; and
• Reforms to DOD’s business practices, including software and IT modernization, improved contracting processes and expanded capacity, innovation and integrity of the defense industrial base to improve returns on taxpayer dollars. 

Senator Crapo secured a number of other provisions in final passage, including: 

• A provision to allow the federal government to rapidly adopt measures to safeguard the production and delivery of vital national security assets and ensure servicemembers have equipment that is not compromised by adversaries like China, Iran and Russia;
• A provision to prevent federal funds from being used by transit agencies to purchase rail cars or buses manufactured by Chinese state-owned, controlled or subsidized companies; and
• A provision to authorize new streams of funding and give the Administration more tools to combat the trafficking of opioids into the United States from China, Mexico and elsewhere. 

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