U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., voted to provide our warfighters in the U.S. military with the tools and resources they need to counter global threats.
 
The National Defense Authorization Act passed the U.S. Senate today by a vote of 89-8. In addition to authorizing funding for the base defense budget for fiscal year 2018, the measure also seeks to ensure the military has the resources it needs to continue the critical support it has provided states in the aftermath of natural disasters, including in recent hurricane recovery efforts.
 
As home to more than a dozen military installations, Georgia is a key beneficiary of the National Defense Authorization Act. The measure includes pay increases for our service members and provides for an increase in troop numbers, giving our military leaders the manpower needed to carry out critical mission assignments and confront threats to our nation.
 
The National Defense Authorization Act also continues support for the Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System mission based out of Georgia and allows Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta, Ga., to enter into private and commercial use agreements. It also provides for the critical A-10 Thunderbolt II mission based out of Moody Air Force Base in Valdosta, Ga., and Robins Air Force Base in Warner Robins, Ga.
 
“This legislation helps us improve and increase military readiness by directing funding where it’s needed and making a bigger investment in our armed forces,” said Isakson. “I thank Chairman McCain and Ranking Member Reed for their tireless efforts on this measure to ensure our men and women in uniform have the resources needed to confront global threats. We must continue to take seriously the threats to our liberty by posed by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, North Korea, the Taliban and Russia. I’m also pleased that we are giving our men and women in uniform who are serving our nation a pay raise.”
 
The National Defense Authorization Act included language offered by Isakson and U.S. Sen. David Perdue, R-Ga., that would prevent the Air Force from prematurely retiring the JSTARS fleet and require that it move forward with plans to recapitalize that critical intelligence platform.
 
“JSTARS is an asset of our U.S. military and our intelligence agencies with a capability that is second to none in the world,” said Isakson. “It has proven itself indispensable in our campaign to defeat ISIL, in counter-terrorism operations, and even during the current hurricane disaster responses. I applaud today’s effort by the Senate to protect this valuable asset, and I will continue fighting for its support.”
 
Additionally, the National Defense Authorization Act includes an amendment offered by Isakson and Perdue to allow the Air Force to be able to diversify the usage of Dobbins Air Reserve Base and its resources by entering into joint partnerships with civilian and commercial entities.
 
The U.S. House of Representatives passed its own NDAA in July, and the two fiscal year 2018 defense authorization measures will now go to a joint House-Senate conference committee where negotiators will work out differences between the bills.