{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://cole.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cole-supports-passage-ndaa-fiscal-year-2017", "Cole Supports Passage of NDAA for Fiscal Year 2017", "2016-12-02", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "OK", "Tom Cole", "C001053", "cole.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed S. 2943, the Conference Report for the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2017 (FY 17) by a vote of 375 to 34. This bill authorizes funding and operations for the Department of Defense and our nation\u2019s Armed Services.\n\u00a0\n\u201cCongress has no greater responsibility than that of providing for our common defense through the annual National Defense Authorization Act,\u201d said Cole.\u00a0 \u201cI am pleased that Congress today, as it has for the past 54 years, passed a strong bi-partisan bill that will give our armed forces the tools necessary to keep our nation safe and secure.\u201d\n\u00a0\n\u201cThere are a number of key provisions of which I am particularly pleased, including a well-deserved pay raise for our troops and procurement reforms that help save billions of dollars. Further, important benefits like the commissaries and health care will continue to be provided and the legislation keeps costs low for our service members and their families.\u201d\n\u00a0\nOther key provisions of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 include:\n\u00a0\n \n\t\tHalting the drawdown and increasing the end strength of our military troops\n\t\n\t\n\t\tContinuing the authorization for the Air Force\u2019s KC-46A Tanker program and the Army\u2019s Paladin PIM which are key programs for Oklahoma\n\t\n\t\n\t\tProviding for a larger force, including increased depot maintenance, facilities sustainment and modernization\n\t\n\t\n\t\tContinuing the operation of Guantanamo Bay detention camp and prohibiting its closure\n\t\n \u201cProviding the necessary resources for our nation\u2019s military should always be among our highest\u00a0priorities. We can never falter on our promise to provide for those who defend us selflessly each day. I am proud to support its passage, and will continue to advocate for appropriations measures that are consistent with the authorized funding for FY 17. Now Congress needs to actually fund these reforms, programs and changes by passing a Defense Appropriations\u200e bill -- the sooner, the better,\u201d concluded Cole.\n\u00a0\nFor more information on NDAA for FY 17, please click here.\n###\nContact: Teresa Davis (202) 225-6165", 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://cole.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cole-supports-passage-ndaa-fiscal-year-2017"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.9362329728901386, "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"}