Loeffler Supports America’s Troops and Strong National Defense

Votes for Senate NDAA, Includes Military Pay Raises, Provisions to Counter China, Support for JSTARS, F-35s, Columbia-Class Submarine, Georgia Jobs

ATLANTA – U.S. Senator Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.) stood with America’s service members and for strong national security by voting in favor of S. 4049, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2021, legislation that supports implementation of President Trump’s National Defense Strategy.
 
This critical legislation authorizes a total of $740.5 billion to help strengthen and modernize our national defense, securing many Georgia priorities, such as funding for upgrades to the Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS) fleet at Robins Air Force Base (Robins AFB) and a provision to help modernize combat gear. Both provisions were requested by Senator Loeffler. The bill also includes key provisions to improve our ability to compete against China and Russia, while enhancing our strategic cooperation with key allies, including Israel.
 
Throughout consideration of the NDAA, Loeffler offered and supported several amendments, including an amendment to further solidify our support for the security of Israel and Loeffler’s bipartisan VA Mission Telehealth Clarification Act, a bill to help enhance the VA’s capacity to provide care to veterans through telehealth. Her legislation was adopted as part of the package.
 
“The National Defense Authorization Act that the Senate passed today reaffirms America’s commitment to maintaining the strongest military and the best national defense systems in the world,” said Loeffler. “Through this legislation, the Senate is ensuring the Department of Defense and our service members have the resources they need to keep Americans safe at home and abroad.” 
 
“This legislation includes significant wins for Georgia’s nine military installations and the men and women who serve there, including funding for 3% pay increase, upgrades the JSTARS fleet and the procurement of equipment and technology to support thousands of Georgia jobs. Additionally, I am proud the Senate’s NDAA includes my bill, the VA Mission Telehealth Clarification Act, which will improve access to care through telehealth for Georgia veterans. 
 
“In a world of ever-evolving threats, our armed forces work tirelessly to keep us safe. While I oppose the provision dealing with the naming of military bases and am committed to working with the president to remove it from the final bill, I place a high priority on veterans’ health care, pay raises for our troops, funding for Georgia installations and making sure our brave men and women in uniform have the best and most modern military equipment in the world. This bill does all of those things. We cannot let anything undermine our national security or put American heroes in harm’s way.”
 
Background on the NDAA:

  • The FY21 NDAA authorizes a total of $740.5 billion for national defense.
  • The bill provides $8.15 billion for military construction and prohibits the Department of Defense from conducting a base realignment and closure (BRAC) process for FY21.  
  • It also provides a 3% pay increase for members of the armed services and authorizes 30 types of bonuses and special pay. 

 
The NDAA includes additional Georgia priorities, including:

  • Increasing funding for modifications to the JSTARS fleet at Robins AFB;
  • Enhancing oversight on the development of the Advanced Battle Management Systems (ABMS), after the Air Force failed to meet a deadline updating Congress on the development of the new system, which the Air Force has committed to host at Robins AFB;
  • Prohibiting the retirement of the A-10’s at Moody AFB during FY21;
  • Authorizing funding for the development of the Columbia-class submarine, which will be stationed at Kings Bay;
  • Providing funding for the procurement of additional F-35’s, the development of which supports over 6,600 Georgia jobs;
  • Providing funding for military construction projects at Fort Gordon, Fort Gillem, and Fort Benning;
  • Enhancing our ability to address cyber threats, including funding for the Army Cyber Center of Excellence at Fort Gordon;  
  • Increasing funding for the STARBASE program, which seeks to improve STEM education for students in several school districts across Georgia;
  • Providing strong funding to support school districts in military communities, including districts near Kings Bay, Fort Benning, Robins AFB and Fort Stewart; and,
  • Increasing funding for the DOD’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) and Minority Institutions Program.

 

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