DeLauro Statement on House Passage of National Defense Authorization Act
Today, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) voted to pass the National Defense Authorization Act, legislation that authorizes investments to strengthen our national security and support our troops. The legislation now heads to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law.
“I am proud to support this year’s National Defense Authorization Act, which authorizes investments in the core strength of our national defense: service members, civilian workers, and their families,” said Congresswoman DeLauro. “It also supports our domestic industrial base, particularly the union workforce right here in Connecticut, while strengthening our military readiness through support to our allies and partners and paving the way for investments in innovation and technology. I am also pleased that 147 House Republicans just voted to authorize the funding levels determined under the bipartisan budget agreement, and I look forward to Speaker Johnson taking that bills passage as a sign that it is time to move forward with appropriations bills under those levels. We must immediately get to work negotiating a final 2024 defense funding bill.”
This bill authorizes funding for key projects that grow and sustain thousands of jobs in Connecticut:
- CH-53K Helicopters – funding to build 15 Sikorsky helicopters.
- Blackhawk Helicopters – funding to build 50 Sikorsky Blackhawk.
- F135 Engine Modernization –$431 million for the F135 Engine Core Upgrade.
- Virginia-class Submarine – $10.3 billion to support the two-per-year build rate of Virginia-class submarines along with $7.1 billion in 2024 for two submarines and $3.2 billion in support of future submarine construction in 2025 and 2026.
A summary of the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act can be found here.