Senator Hassan Votes to Approve Final National Defense Bill with Critical Priorities for New Hampshire
WASHINGTON – Senator Maggie Hassan today voted to approve the final version of the bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019, which includes critical New Hampshire priorities championed by the Senator and makes important investments to improve national security.
“Investing in our national defense is critical to ensuring that the United States of America remains the strongest military force in the world – and also the greatest force for good,” Senator Hassan said. “The bipartisan national defense bill provides a pay raise for our troops and invests in the hardware and support they need to complete their vital missions to keep us safe. This legislation also includes measures I have long championed for the Granite State, including funding to upgrade facilities for the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and for our National Guard, authorization of federal resources for the second year of the nationwide PFAS health study, and a repeal of a burdensome per diem travel policy that has hurt our shipyard workers.
“I urge the President to sign this bill into law as quickly as possible, and I will continue working across party lines to strengthen our national security, support those who serve, and help ensure that all Americans are safe, secure, and free.”
The final bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act for FY19 contains critical priorities for New Hampshire that Senator Hassan has long championed, including:
- Authorizes a 2.6 percent pay raise for all U.S. military personnel
- Includes a military construction authorization for $71 million to begin construction of a Super Flood Basin Dry Dock 1 at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
- Provides $11.6 million to replace a consolidated warehouse at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and $40 million to build a heavy-lift capacity crane
- Fully repeals a Department of Defense (DOD) policy to reduce per diems for DOD employees temporarily deployed to locations outside their home base, including those at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
- Authorizes funding to establish a National Guard Readiness Center in Pembroke
- Provides an additional $10 million for the second year of the nationwide health study on the impacts of PFAS in drinking water
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