Congress Passes Final Defense Bill with Romney Measures for NationalSecurity and Utah

• 12.18.2024
• Tags: Foreign Policy & National Security

Congress Passes Final Defense Bill with Romney Measures for NationalSecurity and Utah

Romney's measures will safeguard against Indo-Pacific threats and reaffirm Utah's role in our national security

WASHINGTON-Congress has passed the bipartisan and bicameral conference report for the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (NDAA), annual legislation that authorizes funding levels and provides authorities for the U.S. military and other critical defense priorities to ensure America's forces have the training, equipment, and resources they need to carry out their missions. The final bill, which now heads to the President's desk, includes several Romney requests aimed at protecting against threats from China, reaffirming Utah's critical role in our national security, and addressing the military recruiting crisis.

"Besides our burgeoning national debt, an emboldened and rising China is the greatest threat to American security and prosperity,"Senator Romney said. "Our nuclear deterrent-and the role that Utah plays in its modernization-is essential to ensuring the United States remains the global superpower. There's a reason it is said that the best defense is a good offense. Equally as important are the strength or our alliances and our ability to develop a comprehensive strategy to deal with China. In this year's defense bill, and in the previous defense bills crafted over my six years in the Senate, I'm proud to have fought for investments and measures that preserve freedom and preserve the Union.

"As countries like China, Russia, and Iran continue to threaten our national security and way of life, it's more important than ever that the United States military has the resources, equipment, and capabilities it needs to keep our nation safe," Romney continued. "This year's NDAA includes several provisions which I fought for to protect against these growing threats by modernizing our nuclear triad and shoring up U.S. military supply chains and partnerships in the Indo-Pacific. Importantly, this year's defense bill also recognizes the service and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform with a substantial pay raise for all servicemembers.

"This year's defense bill also includes several measures which will benefit Utah. Included are several provisions to strengthen the Sentinel program, which has a major presence at Utah's Hill Air Force Base-reaffirming our commitment to modernizing our nuclear triad. To address our military recruitment crisis-a top priority of the Utah National Guard-this NDAA contains our provisions to promote military service among our young people by facilitating access to schools for military recruiters," Romney concluded.

Romney Measures Included in the NDAA:

Incorporating Japan into the AUKUS Partnership: As the Chinese Communist Party ramps up its military activities in the Taiwan Strait, East China Sea, and South China Sea, the U.S. must continue to link arms with allies to effectively push back against increased CCP aggression. Sections 1331-1334 contain an updated version of Romney's Coordinating AUKUS Engagement with Japan Act, legislation that requires Australia-United Kingdom-United States (AUKUS) coordinators at both the U.S. Departments of State and Defense to engage with the Japanese government, and consult with counterparts in the U.K and Australia, to discuss including Japan in certain advanced technology cooperation activities under the AUKUS framework.

Bolstering Sentinel Program and U.S Nuclear Deterrent: The Sentinel program is essential for the long-term strength of the ground-based leg of our nuclear triad. Section 1630 includes a Romney request that requires the Department of Defense to maintain no less than 400 deployed intercontinental ballistic missiles. The NDAA Senate Committee Report includes an additional four Romney requests, including provisions to: strengthen the Sentinel task force that oversees the military construction and installation of supporting systems for the program; assess whether a national land-based deterrence fund to be used on the construction of Sentinel facilities and infrastructure would save the program money; assess the sustainment measures required to maintain the Minuteman III system; and consider potential cost-savings opportunities by reusing parts of the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile weapon system for other applications.

Supporting Hill Air Force Base: The Air Force depot located at Hill Air Force Base faces technological and staffing challenges that can lead to delays in servicing aircraft. The NDAA Senate Committee Report includes a Romney request that requires the Government Accountability Office to examine the challenges to productivity and performance at the Ogden Air Logistics Center and recommend measures to address those challenges and better support the readiness of the Air Force.

Promoting Military Service: The U.S. military failed to meet recruiting goals in FY 2023 by about 41,000 recruits. The Joint Explanatory Statement included language supporting the goals of the Romney-sponsored Military and Educational Data Integration Act that requires the Department of Defense to assess the feasibility of creating a data-sharing program to enable state education systems to access military enlistment data. This would allow high schools to more accurately track the outcomes of students who choose a career in the military after graduation. Section 533 of the NDAA also includes a provision to ensure military recruiters are given the same access to high schools as prospective employers and colleges.

Shoring Up Military Supply Chains in the Indo-Pacific: In the event of a conflict in the Indo-Pacific, the U.S. would face challenges effectively moving personnel and equipment in an area that comprises about half of the earth's surface. The NDAA contains a version of two provisions in Romney's Bolstering Indo-Pacific Capabilities Act-Section 821 adds Japan and South Korea to the group of allies that could provide product support to the U.S. in a contested logistics environment. Section 1026 includes a version of Romney's measurethat grants the authority for the U.S. Navy to use a shipyard outside of the United States to conduct scheduled maintenance or repairs on its naval vessels. The Joint Explanatory Statement also includes language directing DOD to assess the adequacy of the logistics network across the Indo-Pacific region to better inform Congress.

Keeping Drones Out of the Hands of Foreign Terrorists: The use and lethality of unmanned aerial systems by state and non-state actors is evolving. The NDAA includes Romney's Combating Foreign Terrorist Drones Act of 2024, legislation aimed at preventing foreign terrorists-such as Al Qaeda, the Islamic State, and Iran-backed groups like the Houthis-from acquiring drones to conduct attacks, collect intelligence, and deliver weapons or supplies.

Increasing Security Cooperation with Allies: The magnitude of the threats in the Indo-Pacific and Europe, among other parts of the world, make U.S. cooperation with allies and partners essential. The NDAA Senate Committee Report includes a Romney request that requires an evaluation of the Department of Defense's progress in reducing barriers to information sharing with foreign partners.

Full text of the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) can be found here. The NDAA Senate Committee Report can be found here and the Joint Explanatory Statement can be found here.