{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.alexander.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=D69BBBDD-6F59-484D-8743-42008F181A76", "Alexander: $611.2 Billion Defense Bill Means Troops Will Receive Better Pay, New Equipment, More Training and Support", "2016-12-08", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Lamar Alexander", "A000360", "www.alexander.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, Dec. 8, 2016 - U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today released the following statement after the Senate passed a bipartisan agreement for the Fiscal Year 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that establishes the nation\u2019s military spending priorities:\r\n\u00a0\u201cGoverning is about setting priorities, and this bill shows our priority is the men and women who serve in our armed forces. The Fiscal Year 2017 National Defense Authorization Act authorizes $3.2 billion more for our national security than what President Obama requested, including higher pay raises for our troops, such as those who are serving at Ft. Campbell and the Naval Support Activity Mid-South in Millington. The legislation will also help improve health care for our servicemen and women and their families,\u201d Alexander said. \u201cThis bill will also strengthen our national security by supporting important programs at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge to maintain our nuclear weapons arsenal.\u201d\r\nThe NDAA conference report bill authorizes $611.2 billion in funding for the Department of Defense and Department of Energy, which includes the following priorities:\r\n \r\nAuthorizes $3.2 billion more than what President Obama proposed in February to increase the number of military troops.\u00a016,000 more soldiers in the Army, 3,000 more Marines, and nearly 4,000 more Air Force personnel.\r\nA 2.1 percent pay increase for members of the military, which is higher than the president requested, and will help troops at Ft. Campbell and the Naval Support Activity Mid-South in Millington, and reauthorizes more than 30 bonuses and special payments for service men and women.\r\n$19.4 billion for Department of Energy national security programs, which support critical work at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge.\r\nFunding for our nation\u2019s nuclear stockpile, a replacement strategic missile submarine, defense-related environmental cleanup at the Department of Energy.\r\nEliminates excessive and unnecessary spending and reinvests those savings in our military.\r\nA prohibition on transferring detainees at Guantanamo Bay to the United States.\r\nProvides advanced equipment to ensure the men and women of the armed forces have the tools they need protect American interests abroad and work with our allies to defeat ISIL, al Qaeda, and other violent extremist organizations.\r\nThe bill seeks to reform and modernize the military health system to improve access to care, expand choices of health plans and modernize TRICARE, the Department of Defense health program for military service members, retirees and their dependents.\r\n \r\nThe Senate passed its original version of the legislation by a vote of 85 to 13 on June 14.\r\nAfter a conference with the House of Representatives, the House passed the conference report for the National Defense Authorization Act last Friday by a vote of 375-34.\r\nThe Senate passed the conference report today by a vote of 92-7. The bipartisan legislation is now ready to send to the president\u2019s desk so it can become law.\r\n###\r\nFor access to this release and the senator\u2019s other statements, click here.\r\nTo stay up-to-date on the senator\u2019s latest actions, follow him on Twitter and YouTube.", 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://www.alexander.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=D69BBBDD-6F59-484D-8743-42008F181A76"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.4502489939332008, "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"}