Luján Statement on Senate Passage of the National Defense Authorization Act

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) issued the following statement on the Senate passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA):

"Today, I voted to pass the bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act that makes strong investments in our armed services, National Laboratories, and national defense. With our military installations and National Laboratories, New Mexico plays a critical role in protecting our national security, and this NDAA will support our men and women in uniform.

"While I am disappointed that Congressional Republicans inserted partisan language in this bill, which has been passed in a bipartisan fashion for decades, these investments are vital for New Mexico and the nation.

"This NDAA includes much-needed pay raises for our men and women in uniform, advances environmental cleanup efforts, and funding to boost research and development capabilities at our National Laboratories. Our National Laboratories, including at Sandia and Los Alamos in New Mexico, are on the forefront of science, technology, and innovation, and I was proud to secure critical funding to support their mission in this NDAA. These measures are critical for New Mexico that I was proud to support and secure."

Senator Luján helped secure the following provisions in the NDAA:

Increasing Pay for Military Personnel:

• Provides for a 4.5 % pay raise for military service members and a 2% pay raise for the DoD civilian workforce;

• Provides a 10% increase to monthly basic pay for junior enlisted servicemembers in addition to the force-wide pay raise.

Boosting Energy Security and our National Laboratories:

• Authorizes $24.94 billion for the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) to support and sustain its system integration, engineering, and science programs;

• Authorizes $7 billion for DOE's defense environmental cleanup activities, including $275.2 million for Los Alamos National Lab and $1.82 million for Sandia National Labs to support defense-related environmental cleanup, and authorizes $425.4 million for the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP).

Securing Telecommunications Networks:

• Includes $3.08 billion to fund the "Rip and Replace" Program (officially known as the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program).

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