National Defense

Our nation enjoys many freedoms thanks to the service and sacrifice of those in the Armed Forces. Supporting and investing in our National Defense is a Constitutional duty of the Federal government and a primary responsibility of the United States Congress. That is why I have been a firm supporter of our nation’s military. This includes:

• In the National Defense Authorization Act directing the Department of Defense and Department of the Army to conduct a feasibility study to identify potential missions and workload to be located at the Blue Grass Army Depot following the completion of the chemical weapon demilitarization mission.
• Supporting Central Kentucky’s thriving defense industrial base companies by advocating for critical defense funding for Kentucky-supported programs like Army helicopters, submarines, and aircraft carriers.
• Leading the effort for the Kentucky National Guard to be selected to receive 8 new C-130J Aircraft. The Kentucky Air National Guard’s (ANG) previous squadron of eight C-130H aircraft were rapidly aging and in need of recapitalization. The new C-130J aircraft offers improved capabilities to fulfill the ANG’s missions domestically and abroad. In particular, the new model will provide the Kentucky ANG a 25% greater immediate response capability when executing its emergency and disaster response missions.
• Voting for the FY24 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which included a 5.2% pay raise for military servicemembers, expands housing benefits, enhances support for military spouses, improves childcare and schools, and strengthens healthcare services, including mental health support.
• The FY24 NDAA authorizes $886.3 billion for national defense discretionary programs, an increase of $28 billion over the FY23 enacted level. It saves taxpayers $40 billion or 5% of current defense spending levels through cuts to inefficient defense programs, obsolete weapons systems, and redundant Pentagon bureaucracy.
• Securing language sanctioning America’s adversaries like Russia and North Korea in the annual defense policy bill.
• Consistently supporting the annual defense authorization bill that determined policies and priorities of the United States Military.