NDAA applauds defense bill authorization, urges sufficient funding before continuing resolution expires

ARLINGTON, VA – Upon passage of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 in both chambers, and news that the Senate will unveil its defense appropriations bill this week, the National Defense Industrial Association releases this statement:

NDIA applauds passage of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018. The legislation authorizes resources at a level commensurate to the threat environment in which our sailors, airmen, soldiers and Marines operate. It also makes critical program investments and business and acquisition reforms to help arrest our eroding technical superiority, and enables the Defense Department to operate more efficiently while being a better steward of taxpayer dollars.

Still, the hardest work is ahead. Government funding expires in less than a month, and absent a deal to raise or suspend Budget Control Act caps, indiscriminate sequestration cuts to accommodate a $549 billion cap on defense spending will prevail. NDIA urges swift action to reach a budget agreement that provides sufficient defense funds for the remainder of FY 2018.  It must also meet the needs indicated in the soon-to-be-released National Defense Strategy and Nuclear Posture Review that will drive the FY 2019 budget request and Future Years Defense Program.

We are concerned by initial reports indicating congressional leaders are considering a final budget deal for FY 2018 that would allocate defense funds significantly below the $700 billion level authorized by unanimous consent in the Senate and by an overwhelming bipartisan majority in the House. We urge swift action to pass appropriations before December 8^, at a level both necessary and supported by both parties and both chambers of Congress.