The House and Senate this week sent a final version of the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act to the President’s desk.
The bill would authorize up to $634 billion for the Pentagon and nearly $66 billion for wartime missions in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and elsewhere — an estimated $30 billion more than requested in President Donald Trump’s 2018 budget proposal.
Senator Richard Blumenthal and Representative Joe Courtney helped negotiate a final version of the bill that sailed through the House and Senate this week.
“As a member of the Conference Committee and the Senate Armed Services Committee, I fought to include critical funding to support Connecticut’s defense manufacturing sector, including robust funding for the state’s prized programs — nearly $8 billion for Virginia and Columbia Class submarines, over $2 billion for Black Hawks and CH-53Ks, and over $10 billion for joint strike fighters. I call on the President to sign this strong defense bill without delay,” Blumenthal said in a statement.
The House vote was 356-70 with the Connecticut delegation voting in favor. The Senate approved it by voice vote.
Read our earlier report here.