Includes Barrasso’s bill to increase Wyoming uranium production, key Air Force priorities for Wyoming, and a significant pay raise for American troops

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) issued the following statement regarding final passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024.

“The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) ensures America has a strong military to keep us safe in an increasingly dangerous world. Americans can rest easier knowing our military will continue to have the resources it needs to confront growing threats from China, Russia and other adversaries. I’m proud to vote to give our brave service members a much-deserved pay raise.

“The NDAA secures big investments in Wyoming’s military readiness. There is $183 million in funding for projects at Cheyenne’s F.E. Warren Air Force Base, it maintains our ICBM force and it prioritizes nuclear modernization. The NDAA also includes bipartisan legislation I’ve championed to ensure we have a robust C-130 aircraft inventory providing airlift across the globe.

“Energy security is national security. The NDAA includes my legislation to counter Russia’s energy monopoly. My bill ensures our nuclear fuel supply chain begins with American uranium and ends with American fuel. Wyoming energy workers are ready to deliver.

“Republicans secured key provisions that strike directly at certain woke Pentagon policies. We also right a wrong by forcing the Pentagon to compensate service members who were wrongly discharged due to the Biden administration’s misguided COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

“I’m proud to support Wyoming’s men and women in uniform by voting for the NDAA.”

Key Barrasso Provisions Included in NDAA:

1. Barrasso-Klobuchar Amendment #302: requires the Air Force to maintain at least 271 C-130 aircraft and refurbish and maintain no fewer than 150 LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile silos.
2. Barrasso Amendment #999: The Nuclear Fuel Security Act directs the Department of Energy (DOE) to prioritize activities to increase domestic production of low-enriched uranium (LEU) for existing reactors and accelerate efforts to ensure the availability of high-assay, low-enriched uranium (HALEU) for advanced reactors.
3. Barrasso Amendment #1042: requires the administration to combat “Blood Batteries” by establishing a global cooperative framework to end human rights abuses, forced labor and exploitation of child labor related to critical mineral mining around the world.

Other Barrasso-Supported Provisions Included in NDAA:

1. Secures a 5.2% pay raise for service members.
2. Requires DOD to provide compensation for anyone who re-enlists following an involuntary separation for refusing to take the COVID-19 vaccine.
3. Includes the FINISH IT Act to force the Biden administration to use leftover border wall panels for border security purposes.
4. Requires the Pentagon to submit a plan to counter cartels’ human and drug trafficking on the border.
5. Includes the MERIT Act to require that all DOD recruitment and promotion actions are based on merit and performance, not demographic quotas.
6. Creates a Special Inspector General for Ukraine to ensure U.S. resources are being used wisely and effectively.

Click HERE to learn about additional wins in the NDAA.

###