Senator David Perdue Supports Defense Bill That Includes Georgia Military Priorities

Includes more than 30 Georgia priorities secured by Senator Perdue

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator David Perdue (R-GA), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, on passage of the U.S. Senate’s annual defense bill, which includes dozens of key Georgia priorities:

“Our nation faces evolving threats across the globe, and our women and men in uniform need our full support. President Trump is working with Congress to rebuild and modernize our military capabilities. This defense bill delivers the necessary resources to see this mission through. With nine military installations across the state, Georgia’s military community plays a key role in fulfilling the Trump Administration’s National Defense Strategy. This bill gives our bases the tools they need to continue defending Americans at home and abroad.”

Background

As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator Perdue was an active participant in discussions around this year’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The defense bill includes the following provisions important to Georgia’s military community:

• Military Equipment: Ensures funding for a wide range of military equipment produced by businesses across the state of Georgia. This will include a boost for Columbia Class submarines at Kings Bay, as well as the production of C-130 aircraft in Marietta, F-35s across the state, and Compass Call aircraft in Savannah.

• STEM: Directs the Department of Defense (DOD) to develop competitive strategies to incentivize STEM hiring in Georgia and across the nation.

• Cyber: Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to establish Cyber Institutes at colleges and universities that have Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, with special consideration for Georgia’s Senior Military Colleges. This also directs the DOD to partner with universities and industry on cyber education and training.

• JSTARS: Prohibits the retirement of any aircraft in the Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS) fleet, which is flown out of Robins Air Force Base, and secures funding for critical upgrades to enhance the operability and service life of aircraft.

• Infrastructure: Addresses the necessity to improve infrastructure, increase resiliency, and ensure the long-term sustainment of all of our Georgia bases.

• Research and Development: Provides funding for a range of initiatives at universities and businesses across the state and will include advanced technologies, munitions, and cyber testing and training facilities at Fort Gordon.

• Readiness: Secures funding for the re-winging of A-10 aircraft based at Moody Air Force Base, promotes military spouse employment at bases across the state, and reaffirms the need for the civilian depot workforce at Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany and Robins Air Force Base.

• Operations: Directs the Secretary of Defense to initiate a joint approach on electromagnetic spectrum operations, which will make Georgia bases critical to the entire DOD in the electromagnetic spectrum field.