Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) voted to pass the final version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024 with strong support for U.S. service members, Nevadans, and allies who are critical for American national security. The defense bill includes critical funding and new equipment for Nevada military installations, pay raises for service members, and measures to support Israel and Ukraine.
“I was proud to vote to increase pay for our service members, fund our military, and deliver crucial support for Ukraine and Israel,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “This legislation also provides millions to Nevada’s military installations, helping us protect our national security and ensure our men and women in uniform have what they need to keep us safe. I look forward to this critical bill being signed into law.”
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. Senate Democrats blocked provisions in the House-passed NDAA to punish women service members for traveling for abortion care.
In addition, the following measures supported by Senator Cortez Masto were included in the final bill:
- Support for Nevada’s military installations, including:
- Installation of 15 threat emitters on the Nevada Test and Training Range to ensure U.S. Air Force can provide pilots with realistic air combat training.
- $6.2 million for the construction of a new F-35 hangar, and a data lab and $7.5 million for the planning and design of new dormitories at Nellis Air Force Base.
- $29 million for the 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.
- A Creech Air Force Base study on the feasibility of increasing incentive pay, which is the first step in securing additional resources for service members at this base.
- A 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.
- Establishment of a congressional charter for the National American Indian Veterans (NAIV), which helps Tribal veterans access assistance, care, and resources.
Senator Cortez Masto is a champion for our service members and their families, as well as our veterans. Last year, she secured the expansion of the Fallon Range Training Complex through the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), as well as her the Brian Neuman Act to 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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