News Releases

Sen. Moran: National Defense Authorization Empowers Our Armed Forces to Defend Our Nation

Includes Sen. Moran’s Priorities to Increase Armed Forces End Strength, Prohibitions for Guantanamo Bay

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) this week supported an agreement between the House and Senate on the Fiscal Year 2017 (FY17) National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to authorize defense programs and funding in support of the United States armed forces. The bill continues to prohibit the transfer of Guantanamo Bay detainees to the United States and halts proposed force reductions. The FY17 NDAA Conference Report passed the House of Representatives last week and now heads to the president’s desk to be signed into law.

“The Fiscal Year 2017 National Defense Authorization Act makes certain that the men and women working tirelessly to keep us safe at home and abroad can keep doing their jobs,” said Sen. Moran. “This legislation supports additional funding for readiness to remain the number one fighting force in the world, provides military families with benefits and the pay increase they deserve, and prevents this administration from closing the Guantanamo Bay detention facility and transferring detainees to U.S. soil. The bill also includes critical funding for Fort Riley, Fort Leavenworth and McConnell Air Force Base, helping Kansas remain a stronghold for military training and power.”

The conference report of the FY17 NDAA includes language addressing a number of Sen. Moran’s defense priorities, including: 

  • End-Strength – Increases personnel end-strength for the Active duty and Reserve components of the armed forces. Sen. Moran led efforts to halt current and planned reductions to end-strength levels in the POSTURE Act (S. 2563).
  • Guantanamo Bay – As in previous years, the FY17 NDAA prohibits funds from being used to transfer Guantanamo Bay detainees to the United States, and for the construction or modification of facilities in the United States to detain Guantanamo Bay inmates. Sen. Moran led efforts to remove a provision previously included in the Senate-debated FY17 NDAA (Section 1023) allowing for funds to develop a plan to close the detention center on Guantanamo Bay.
  • Military Construction – Authorizes funds for military construction at Fort Riley and McConnell Air Force Base. It includes $12.2 million for an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Complex at Fort Riley, $29 million for a Kansas Army National Guard Readiness Center on Fort Leavenworth and $19.8 million for an Air Traffic Control Tower, Taxiway Delta and Flight Simulator Buildings at McConnell AFB.
  • Pay Increase – Servicemembers will receive a 2.1 percent increase in monthly basic pay for members of the military, which is the largest pay increase in five years.
  • Basic Allowance for Housing – Removes controversial provisions that would decrease the basic allowance for housing for dual military families. Sen. Moran was part of a bipartisan group of senators calling for the removal of these provisions.
  • California National Guard – Waives the recoupment of bonus and other special payment to members of the California National Guard and authorizes the repayment of bonuses that have already been recouped.

Click here to watch Sen. Moran’s remarks on YouTube.

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