WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, voted in favor of advancing the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2019. The bill passed the committee by a bipartisan vote of 25-2. This annual legislation authorizes defense spending and sets the policy and priorities for our military.  

“The Senate Armed Services Committee has once again come together in a strong bipartisan manner and passed legislation to provide for the common defense. During the markup process, I was pleased to help lead efforts to restore funding to recapitalize the OC-135B and other key platforms used by our airmen and women at Offutt Air Force Base in critical national security missions. As the chairman of the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, I’m also proud of the provisions in the bill to modernize our nuclear forces and to improve our ballistic missile defense and space capabilities,” said Senator Fischer.

Below are some highlights from the FY 2019 NDAA:

Senator Fischer chairs the Strategic Forces Subcommittee. Key accomplishments within its jurisdiction include:

• Supporting the mission of the men and women of USSTRATCOM, beginning with the sustainment modernization of our nuclear forces and the supporting infrastructure of the Department of Energy.

• Supporting the administration’s 2018 Nuclear Posture Review by authorizing funding for the development of the low-yield submarine-launched ballistic missile warhead.

• Authorizing significant additional resources to increase the pace of nuclear modernization, invest in space and missile defense capabilities, and meet unfunded warfighter requirements. These include:

• An additional $69.4 million for the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) program and an additional $85 million for the replacement air-launched cruise missile, the Long-range Standoff weapon (LRSO). Both modernization programs are ahead of schedule and the additional funding will allows each to sustain their momentum.

• An additional $100 million to accelerate the Evolved Space-Based Infrared System, in support of the Air Force’s plan to acquire the vital capabilities needed by our warfighters in a more rapid and agile way.

• Additional funding to accelerate key missile defense technologies, including defense against hypersonic threats ($46 million), directed energy ($80 million), and space-based sensors ($73 million)

• An additional $284.5 million to improve ballistic missile defense capabilities for our forces on the Korean Peninsula in response to an urgent need identified by U.S. Pacific Command.

Outside of the Strategic Forces subcommittee, Senator Fischer also championed several independent initiatives that were included in the FY2019 NDAA. Several of these initiatives are listed below.

Includes Full Authorized Funding for the OC-135 Recapitalization

• The FY2019 NDAA included an amendment that Senator Fischer helped spearhead with Senate Armed Services Committee Ranking Member, Jack Reed, to restore funding that had been cut from the Chairman’s Mark for the OC-135B Recapitalization. 

• This consensus effort in markup provides approximately $222 million to replace the aging 1960s-era Open Skies aircraft based at Offutt Air Force Base with two new commercially-sourced aircraft that will allow our aircrews to fly these missions safely.

• As part of the effort to secure this funding, Senator Fischer drafted a letter to Secretary of Defense James Mattis, who in his response fully endorsed her push to fund the platform and maximize our benefit from the Open Skies Treaty. 

Fully Authorizes Substantial Upgrades to the Airframes of the 55^th Wing

• Authorizes full funding for the Air Force Budget Request to support the RC-135. This will allow significant upgrades to the capabilities of the RC-135 RIVET JOINT. 
  
  
• Includes full funding authorization for the Air Force plan to convert three KC-135R tankers into WC-135R CONSTANT PHOENIX aircraft, the planes used by the United States to detect signs of nuclear explosions. 
  
  
• In total, the Senate NDAA contains over $600 million for the aircraft based at Offutt Air Force Base.  

Encourages the Swift Completion of the Offutt Runway Project

• Includes an amendment drafted by Senator Fischer to encourage the Air Force to swiftly and diligently complete the Offutt runway project, and directs a larger assessment of the overall state of the Air Force’s runway infrastructure. 

Includes Reforms Based on the “Gold Star Family Support and Installation Access Act”

• Includes a provision authored by Senator Fischer to ease access for surviving spouses and next of kin to military installations to access benefits they are eligible for.

Authorizes Funding for New Infrastructure Upgrades to USSTRATCOM 

• Authorizes important funding for maintenance, operations and construction, including funding for a new parking lot for USSTRATCOM.

Taken as whole, the FY2019 National Defense Authorization Act includes a comprehensive set of measures designed to continue rebuilding readiness and execute the core tenets of the administration’s National Defense Strategy. This includes:

• An increase of $550 million authorized for depot maintenance to address critical readiness shortfalls. 
  
  
• Increases facilities sustainment by roughly $450 million.
  
  
• Authorizes a pay raise of 2.6 percent for all members of the uniformed 
  services, recognizing that no piece of equipment is more important than the men and women who wear the uniform.