WASHINGTON–U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) welcomed bipartisan Senate passage of the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that invests in America’s military, achieves national security priorities and strengthens support and services for U.S. servicemembers and their families. Boozman voted in favor of the legislation on the Senate floor, which passed by a vote of 86 to 11. 

“I’m pleased we advanced this vital legislation that ensures our Armed Forces are modernized and capable of deterring threats from adversaries like China or even at our own vulnerable borders,” Boozman said. “Just as important, it helps improve the quality of life for those wearing our country’s uniform and their families in addition to insisting our military remains focused on its core mission rather than misguided initiatives that harm morale and recruitment efforts. This is a good first step in getting a defense policy bill across the finish line as Congress has every year for the last six decades.” 

Boozman pushed to include language in the bill that authorizes projects needed for Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith to successfully host the Foreign Military Sales program.

The senator also championed provisions to reinforce the domestic small arms industrial base, including several major companies with production operations in Camden. If enacted, the measures will provide predictability to defense manufacturers based in south Arkansas and support further economic growth and investment at Highland Industrial Park that will benefit the community. 

The legislation includes a 5.2 percent pay raise for servicemembers; enhances our national munitions supply; harnesses new technologies to improve naval, air and ground capabilities; counters China’s aggression against Taiwan through new training programs and strengthens our partnership with allies in Europe; helps secure our homeland and airspace with border security and drug and human trafficking operations; and roots out divisive ideology and emphasizes a return to equal opportunity within the Department of Defense.

The FY 2024 NDAA will now head to a conference committee between the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate to agree on a final version that can pass both chambers and be sent to the president’s desk to be signed into law.