{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://brooks.house.gov/media-center/news-releases/news-release-brooks-applauds-house-final-passage-2017-defense-bill", "Brooks Applauds House Final Passage of 2017 Defense Bill", "2016-12-02", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Mo Brooks", "B001274", "brooks.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congressman Mo Brooks (AL-05) voted in support of the conference report to S. 2943, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2017.\u00a0 The NDAA authorizes programs for America\u2019s national defense and passed the House by a 375-34 bipartisan vote.\u00a0 This legislation is the conference report to H.R. 4909, which passed the House in May, and S. 2943 which passed the Senate in June.\u00a0\n\u00a0\nThe FY17 NDAA topline funding increased by $7 billion, to $611.2 billion, authorizing, amongst other things, $551.7 billion for the Department of Defense base budget as well as $59.5 billion for Overseas Contingency Operations.\u00a0 Brooks highlighted significant achievements for Alabama and notable provisions he worked on with members of the House Armed Services Committee to incorporate in this legislation.\u00a0\n\u00a0\nCongressman Brooks said, \u201cIn recent years, budget cuts have slashed vital funding for training and equipment, creating a readiness crisis. \u00a0The FY17 NDAA protects programs critical to ensuring our warfighters have the training and weaponry needed to protect America.\u00a0 Specifically, the legislation increases ground and aviation training and replenishes depleted munitions inventories.\u00a0 In addition, the FY17 NDAA fully fund\u2019s Israel\u2019s missile defense requirements and rejects cuts to TRICARE, Housing Allowances, and Commissary benefits for service members and their families. \u00a0The FY17 NDAA also includes the largest pay raise for our troops in six years.\u201d\n\u00a0\nBrooks added, \u201cOn a local level, the FY17 NDAA promotes key provisions benefiting Redstone Arsenal and North Alabama.\u00a0 Notably, the FY17 NDAA helps Redstone Arsenal\u2019s Army Space and Missile Defense Command assist ground warfighter\u2019s exploitation of space capabilities.\u00a0 The Tennessee Valley specializes in small satellite technology development and the NDAA prioritizes and accelerates this growth.\u00a0 In particular, the NDAA includes my language to develop three-dimensional high-resolution light detection and ranging systems.\u00a0 This force multiplier has been overlooked in recent defense budgets and I\u2019m pleased we are focusing on this capability.\u00a0 The FY17 NDAA protects America\u2019s access to space by requiring the development of an American rocket engine to replace the Russian RD-180.\u00a0 In the interim the conference report allows Decatur\u2019s United Launch Alliance access to enough RD-180 rocket engines to bridge the gap until America\u2019s new rocket engine is fully functional. \u00a0The NDAA improves Land-Based Anti-Ship Missile technology maturation by addressing key Anti-Access/Area Denial issues.\u201d\n\u00a0\nBrooks concluded, \u201cFinally, in 2015, there was a major House floor flight in the FY16 NDAA over whether illegal aliens should be allowed to compete for and take military service opportunities from American citizens and lawful immigrants.\u00a0 My floor amendment protecting American citizens and lawful immigrants from illegal alien competition was adopted by the House.\u00a0 I am pleased to note that the FY17 NDAA preserves my efforts by again blocking illegal aliens from competing for and taking military service positions from American citizens and lawful immigrants.\u201d\u00a0\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://brooks.house.gov/media-center/news-releases/news-release-brooks-applauds-house-final-passage-2017-defense-bill"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.9490239899605513, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}