{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.capito.senate.gov/news/press-releases/capito-votes-to-pass-defense-policy-bill", "Capito Votes to Pass Defense Policy Bill", "2025-12-17", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "WV", "Shelley Moore Capito", "C001047", "www.capito.senate.gov", "capito", "https://www.capito.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) voted in favor of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 (NDAA). The bipartisan legislation includes support for America\u2019s service members and their families, while also authorizing programs that strengthen military readiness and enhance national security. The NDAA passed by a vote of 77-20.\n\n\u201cI am proud that Congress has once again worked together to pass a bipartisan defense authorization bill, which sets policies for our nation\u2019s armed forces that enhance our security here at home, support our troops with a much-deserved pay raise, and better equips our military to face twenty-first century challenges from a position of strength. Through my efforts, I also secured the inclusion of provisions that support West Virginia\u2019s role in our national defense,\u201d Senator Capito said.\n\nTHE NDAA INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING PROVISIONS THAT SENATOR CAPITO ADVOCATED FOR:\n\nAuthorizes the Pentagon to officially establish and maintain an \u201cIrregular Warfare Exercise Laboratory,\u201d also known as the Ridge Runner military exercise led by the West Virginia National Guard. This exercise brings significant economic benefits to the state of West Virginia while increasing the military readiness of U.S. forces in irregular warfare.\n\nEstablishes in law the soldier-inspired innovation program, Catalyst Pathfinder, which was created in West Virginia as a way to accelerate Army technological innovation and save taxpayer money. This West Virginia-based program is already present at numerous Army installations, allowing soldiers to engineer their own innovative solutions to a wide variety of challenges.\n\nRequires the Navy to take action in planning for newer, more effective waterborne security barriers that protect bases and ships from threats. These barriers are manufactured in Wyoming County.\n\nADDITIONAL NDAA HIGHLIGHTS:\n\nFunding Authorization: The bill authorizes $901 billion for the Pentagon, which is a $8 billion increase over the President\u2019s Budget Request.\n\nPay Raise: Authorizes a 3.8% pay raise for service members.\n\nPentagon Reform: Includes numerous provisions to improve efficiency and support audit efforts.\n\nOther National Security Programs: Contains reauthorizations of the State Department, Intelligence programs, the Coast Guard, and the Defense Production Act.\n\nMerit: Requires that all military command selections be based on individual merit and demonstrated performance.\n\nJROTC: Increases the number of JROTC units by 100 and authorizes a cash bonus for new JROTC instructors.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"]], "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.capito.senate.gov/news/press-releases/capito-votes-to-pass-defense-policy-bill"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.5228972770273685, "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"}