U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines voted to advance major Montana priorities in the bipartisan defense bill, the “National Defense Authorization Act” (NDAA), including a 2.7% pay raise for troops and support for Malmstrom Air Force Base and Montana’s National Guard.
“This bipartisan defense bill gives our troops a much-deserved pay raise, supports Malmstrom and the Montana National Guard, and helps ensure Montana’s servicemembers remain the best equipped forces in the world so that they can help keep America safe,” Daines said. “I worked hard to make this bill better for Montana and our national security, and also successfully worked to strike a provision that would force women into the draft.”
Montana Defense Wins in the NDAA:
- Awards a 2.7% pay raise to service members in 2022
- Fully funds the nuclear triad, which includes Malmstrom, and invests in new research and modernization
- Accelerates production of Grey Wolf helicopters for Malmstrom
- Supports construction of a new National Guard Readiness Center in Butte
- Prohibits the Biden administration from unilaterally reducing the number of deployed nuclear warheads below 400
- Strengthens local involvement in the safe movement and transportation of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs)
- Requires the Department of Defense to provide additional training to medical providers on the effects of Burn Pit exposure
- Empowers U.S. Southern Command to take a more prominent role in countering Chinese influence in Central and South America
- Supports the implementation of Electronic Health Records at VA medical centers
- Requires a briefing on consultation with U.S. allies regarding nuclear posture review
- Requires development of a grand strategy with respect to China
- Requires honorable discharges for service members who refuse the COVID-19 vaccine
- Allows concurrent use of DoD tuition assistance and Montgomery GI Bill benefits
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Contact: Katherine McKeogh, Katie Schoettler