{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-passes-final-2024-defense-bill-with-king-backed-provisions-to-strengthen-national-security-and-support-maine-jobs", "Senate Passes Final 2024 Defense Bill with King-Backed Provisions to Strengthen National Security and Support Maine Jobs", "2023-12-14", "2023", "2023-12", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Armed Services and Intelligence Committees and Veterans Affairs Committee, hailed the bipartisan Senate passage of the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) \u2013 which will strengthen America\u2019s national security, support our men and women in uniform, and boost Maine communities through the dozens of businesses that serve the military\u2019s technological and manufacturing needs.\n\nToday\u2019s vote was on the final defense legislation after months of bicameral negotiations, and includes a number of provisions that Senator King backed, including: support for veterans, two Arleigh Burke-class destroyers that Bath Iron Works (BIW) can compete to build, provisions to address the security threats posed by artificial intelligence, and stronger measures to prevent illegal drugs from entering the country. It is now headed to the House of Representatives, where swift bipartisan passage is expected.\n\n\u201cFor over six decades, Congress has put aside partisan differences to improve America\u2019s national security and support our servicemembers. I\u2019m proud that we could continue the tradition this year to pass an annual defense bill that will make our nation\u2014and our state\u2014safer and stronger,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cAs our global community faces some of its greatest challenges, the bill makes important investments in our military\u2019s greatest asset \u2013 its people. We have a responsibility to serve our men and women in uniform just as they serve us, and this bill lives up to that obligation with the largest pay raise in more than 20 years and assistance for our military\u2019s spouses. The legislation also supports good-paying jobs in Maine communities, particularly through its funding for shipbuilding at Bath Iron Works and Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. These funds will help the shipyards plan their futures, continue to build the highest-quality ships, and maintain the submarine fleet that our Navy needs to accomplish missions across the globe.\n\n\u201cThere are many more important provisions in this legislation \u2013 including steps to modernize our nuclear arsenal, fight the opioid epidemic, and deter Chinese aggression,\u201d continued Senator King. \u201cAll told, this year\u2019s NDAA will make our country safer, strengthen our economy, and support the men and women who serve in our military.\u201d\n\nThe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 includes King-backed provisions to:\n\nINVEST IN MAINE SHIPBUILDING AND INSTALLATIONS. The FY24 NDAA authorizes two DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers and $780 million advance procurement of an additional DDG to be purchased next year that Bath Iron Works can compete to build.\n\nThis legislation also supports critical Maine National Guard facilities and authorizes $544 in funding for Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY) modernization efforts \u2013 including their Dry Dock extension that will allow PNSY to increase its capacity to maintain the Navy\u2019s submarine fleet.\n\nFUND MAINE INNOVATION AND SMALL BUSINESSES. This legislation supports Maine-driven research and development in the Arctic training capacity, composites development and 3D printing, munitions, F135 engine upgrades, mass timber integration, and hypersonic technology. The legislation also includes support for APEX Accelerators, which help small businesses obtain and navigate Department of Defense contracts.\n\nSUPPORT AMERICA\u2019S SERVICEMEMBERS AND MILITARY SPOUSES. The FY24 NDAA includes Senator King\u2019s Military Spouse Employment Act which will help military spouses find remote work in the federal government while their spouses serve in the armed services. Recruiting and maintaining a high-caliber, all-volunteer force also continues to be a high priority. This legislation includes a 5.2 percent pay increase for military and civilian personnel, the highest pay raise in over 20 years for the military and over 40 years for civilians.\n\nThe months and years after separation from the military remain a challenge for our veterans. The FY24 NDAA adds the Department of Labor to the Department of Defense -Veterans Affairs Joint Executive Committee partnership that will ensure full collaboration and synchronization between these three critical agencies that assist transitioning servicemembers and veterans searching for fulfilling employment in civilian life.\n\nIMPROVE HOUSING ASSISTANCE FOR MAINE\u2019S COAST GUARD. This legislation includes critical oversight on Department of Defense programs that support Coast Guard members, including how the Department funds housing allowances and how the Department supports change of duty station moves.\n\nDETER CHINESE AGGRESSION. It's no secret that the People's Republic of China has emerged as America's primary competitor, as the only nation with the intent and the capability to mount a sustained challenge to the United States' security and economic interests. The FY24 NDAA continues to focus on the long-term strategic competition with China by investing in contested logistics capabilities forward, pacific-based training and exercises, key regional partnerships, and other forward-based systems and installations needed to quickly blunt Chinese aggression if needed.\n\nMODERNIZE CRITICAL NUCLEAR DETERRENTS. As Chairman of the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, Senator King is a Congressional leader working to modernize the nation\u2019s nuclear triad and address the threats posed by new hypersonic weapons. From the B-21 Raider to the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent to a tactical sea-launched capability, the bill continues to build capability and capacity. This year\u2019s bill also includes significant investments in preventing proliferator states and terrorist groups from developing or acquiring Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD).\n\nADDRESS EVOLVING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE CAPABILITIES. This legislation includes a Senator King-led provision to evaluate technology, including applications, tools, and models, to detect and watermark generative artificial intelligence. This provision would allow the DOD to better identify and detect deep fakes and false information created by bad actors employing AI technology.\n\nCOMBAT ILLEGAL DRUG TRAFFICKING. The opioid crisis continues to hit close to home, killing two people in Maine every single day. This legislation supports plans to counter fentanyl trafficking and counter transnational organized crime.\n\nSUPPORT RECRUITING IN THE NORTHEAST: This legislation includes a Senator King-led provision encouraging the DOD to focus America\u2019s recruiting efforts on remote geographic areas lacking military infrastructure and presence.\n\nTRAIN THE MAINE NATIONAL GUARD. This legislation provides our Maine National Guard funding from training and new infrastructure to operational deployments.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"]], "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.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-passes-final-2024-defense-bill-with-king-backed-provisions-to-strengthen-national-security-and-support-maine-jobs"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.6043009236454964, "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"}