The defense funding authorization bill for the 2019 Fiscal Year (FY) that has Rep. Chris Smith’s (R-NJ) support includes $10.2 million for Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, authorizes the largest pay raise for military personnel in nine years, and leaves out the federal process to realign and/or close military bases.
“I am committed to ensuring that the men and women who serve our country in the armed forces have as much support as possible,” Rep. Smith stated. “For too long they have been in dire need of a boost but have not received one—financially, through troop support, and by modernizing our equipment. The last defense spending bill provided much-needed upgrades to our combat readiness and military equipment, and this bill would continue that support.”
The FY 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) has a topline of $717 billion, $17.4 billion more than the FY2018 NDAA. It authorizes a pay increase for servicewomen and men of 2.6 percent, more than the 2.4 percent raise in the previous NDAA and the largest in nine years.
This includes $10.2 million for Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst to replace the Hot Cargo Hydrant System, used for aircraft that require hazardous cargo parking.
“As the current refueling system is broken, the aircraft with hazardous cargo must be refueled by tanker trucks—a time-and-labor intensive process that is costly, inefficient and increases the risk of fuel spills,” Smith said. “This necessary replacement of the hydrant system would upgrade the safety and efficiency of the tanker refueling at the base.”
Also, U.S. military readiness receives another significant boost in the bill, which authorizes:
· $39.5 billion for new aircraft
· $36 billion for new ships and the maintenance of existing ships
· $23.3 billion for repairs and rebuilding of military buildings and infrastructure
· $18.6 billion for rehabilitation and replacement of worn out Army equipment
“It’s very important to note that the current legislation rejects authorization for the military’s Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process,” Smith said.
Smith supported the FY2018 NDAA, which provided support to the men and women serving in the armed forces and authorized over $146.5 million for JB-MDL for construction projects related to the arrival of the KC-46A refueling tanker anticipated for 2021, as well as $11.6 million for Navy Reserve and Marine Corps Reserve projects at the base for aircraft apron, taxiway, and support facilities.
