{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=A33A9E40-AD45-427E-958E-A501782A53AF", "McConnell on Passage of the National Defense Bill: More Work to Be Done", "2024-12-18", "2024", "2024-12", "Republican", "Senate", "KY", "Mitch McConnell", "M000355", "www.mcconnell.senate.gov", "mcconnell", "https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) secured several important priorities for Kentucky in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which passed the Senate today. The legislation now goes to the President for his signature.\n\n\u201cThe National Defense Authorization Act, like all major legislation, is a compromise product. While this legislation falls short of the topline increase in defense investments my Republican colleagues and I have advocated, I\u2019d be remiss not to mention several important priorities this bill secures for Kentuckians,\u201d said Senator McConnell. \u201cThe NDAA once again deepens Kentucky\u2019s commitment to our nation\u2019s defense with provisions that establish a state-of-the-art aviation facility at Fort Knox and reinforce the role of Kentucky-based manufacturers in our defense industrial base. I\u2019m especially proud this bill expands telehealth services for servicemembers across state lines, so our nation\u2019s heroes and their families have ready access to the care they need.\u201d\n\nThis legislation authorizes several provisions to bolster America\u2019s defense, rebuild our arsenal, and reform antiquated procurement practices: pilots a program to commercially produce munitions, strengthens America\u2019s munitions supply chain, and significantly streamlines bureaucracy to expedite acquisition at the Department of Defense. The NDAA also embraces emerging innovations in counter-drone technology, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing, and it paves the way for generational upgrades in our nation\u2019s nuclear, hypersonic, missile defense, and space capabilities.\n\nExpanded Access to Online Mental Health Care\n\nSenator McConnell secured a new interstate authority for Tricare providers to expand access to mental healthcare for our nation\u2019s servicemembers and their families. This legislation authorizes delivery of telehealth services across state lines, expanding the network of available providers, increasing patient choice, reducing wait times, and allowing our nation\u2019s heroes to keep the providers they trust when moving from base to base. This provision helps ensure Kentucky\u2019s servicemembers at Fort Knox, Fort Campbell, and the Blue Grass Army Depot have ready access to the care they need.\n\nEnhanced Preparedness for Emerging Threats\n\nAt Senator McConnell\u2019s urging, the bill requires a comprehensive review of U.S. military training, doctrine, and technology necessary to address the proliferation of tunnels, bunkers, weapons silos, and other subterranean military facilities used by adversaries such as Hamas, Iran, and North Korea. Senator McConnell remains committed to ensuring the Department of Defense and our servicemembers have the resources they need to defend our nation in these complex threat environments.\n\nSenator McConnell also secured the following priorities that bolster the Commonwealth\u2019s central role in America\u2019s defense:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"]], "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.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=A33A9E40-AD45-427E-958E-A501782A53AF"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.9850901551544666, "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"}