Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) voted to pass the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024 in the Senate with strong support for U.S. service members, Nevadans, and allies who are critical for American national security. The defense bill includes legislation she cosponsored to restrict the fentanyl supply chain as well as funding for Nevada military installations, pay raises for service members, and measures to stand up against the Chinese Communist Party.
“Supporting our service members and their families is an essential part of my work in the Senate, and I was proud to vote to fund our military and strengthen our national defense,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “This legislation will help us crack down on international drug trafficking, stand up to China, and support our allies abroad while also increasing pay for service members and delivering vital funding to Nevada’s military bases here at home.”
The FY2024 NDAA includes a 5.2% pay raise for both military service members and Department of Defense (DoD) civilian employees as well as increased funding to help the U.S. combat foreign influence operations, outcompete the Chinese government, and support our allies and partners, including Israel and Ukraine. In addition, the following measures supported by Senator Cortez Masto were included in the Senate-approved bill:
- Fentanyl Eradication and Narcotics Deterrence (FEND) Off Fentanyl Act:
- This bill, cosponsored by Senator Cortez Masto, will strengthen current law and help stop international drug traffickers from bringing deadly fentanyl into Nevada communities.
- Support for Nevada’s military installations, including:
- $6.2 million for the construction of a new F-35 hangar and a data lab at Nellis Air Force Base.
- $29 million for the Nevada Fallon Range Training Complex at Naval Air Station (NAS) Fallon and $32 million for Creech Air Force Base to continue vital trainings and military construction.
- $61.9 million for the Nevada Test Site and $80 million for renovations, maintenance, and new facilities at the Nevada National Security Site.
- Robust support to combat the threat of forever chemicals (PFAS) on military bases, including funding to treat contaminated areas and study the long-term impacts of PFAS on water supplies.
- Feasibility Study on the National Guard State Partnership Program:
- The FY2024 NDAA will direct a feasibility study into leveraging resources across states and the private sector to better advance this critical program for building relationships with partner countries.
- The study will build on Senator Cortez Masto’s BLUE Pacific Act by contributing to stronger long-term diplomatic, security, and economic partnerships with nations in the Indo-Pacific.
Senator Cortez Masto is a champion for our service members and their families, as well as our veterans. Last year, Cortez Masto secured the expansion of the Fallon Range Training Complex through the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), as well as her the Brian Neuman Actto remove roadblocks for disabled veterans accessing their benefits. She passed the PACT Act to ensure veterans suffering from toxic exposure in the line of duty get the medical care they need and worked across the aisle to get legislation helping veterans exposed to Agent Orange and expanding benefits for women veterans signed into law.
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