Cortez Masto Applauds Final Passage of the NDAA

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement on the final passage of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2019, which includes language Senator Cortez Masto supported to prioritize the needs of Nevada’s service members and to update important military training resources and technology.

“I am proud to have worked with my colleagues on the National Defense Authorization Act, which includes several bipartisan provisions that directly help Nevada’s RPA community, improves the quality of military housing on Nevada bases, and prioritizes improvements to our state’s military training infrastructure. This legislation puts our service members first and my amendments also hold this Administration accountable for caring for our men and women in uniform, developing a strategy for Syria, and preparing our national security community to understand the potential opportunities and threats of artificial intelligence to our national security. These provisions are now headed to the President’s desk for signing. I look forward to continuing to fight in the Senate for the resources and support our service members have earned and deserve.”

The following are Senator Cortez Masto’s legislative initiatives that were included in the final passage of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2019:  

• Legislation requiring the president to report U.S. strategy in Syria: Holds the president accountable for developing a strategy to combat threats facing the United States, Israel, and other allies from the conflict in Syria, which built on legislation Senator Cortez Masto introduced. 
• Legislation supporting Nevada’s RPA Community: Directs the Government Accountability Office to conduct an independent analysis on ways to more rapidly improve services and reduce stress for Nevada’s remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) members and their families.
• Bipartisan legislation to improve the quality of military housing: Improves housing on military bases by calling on the Department of Defense to increase oversight of privatized military housing projects. 
• Bipartisan legislation to prepare U.S. for advances in artificial intelligence technology: Commissions a study on the future of the development of artificial intelligence and its implications for Department of Defense (DoD), which built on legislation Senator Cortez Masto introduced with Senator Ernst.
• Language building on a bipartisan amendment to strengthen resources at the Nevada Test and Training Range: Requires the Air Force to report to Congress on its plan to upgrade existing resources at Air Force training ranges to ensure the Air Force is training against 21^st century threats, which built on an amendment Senator Cortez Masto secured in the Senate version of the FY19 NDAA.

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