{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-votes-for-annual-defense-bill-to-address-global-threats-support-our-military/", "Young Votes for Annual Defense Bill to Address Global Threats, Support Our Military", "2024-12-19", "2024", "2024-12", "Republican", "Senate", "IN", "Todd Young", "Y000064", "www.young.senate.gov", "toddyoung", "https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) voted for the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which will set policy for the Department of Defense (DoD), establish the national security priorities of Congress, and upgrade our nation\u2019s warfighting capabilities. The legislation passed the Senate 85-14.\n\n\u201cThe National Defense Authorization Act is one of the most important pieces of legislation that Congress considers each year. I am pleased the final bill includes several critical priorities I have worked on to counter the Chinese Communist Party, ensure the U.S. maintains global leadership in emerging biotech, modernize our defense capabilities, and support Indiana\u2019s defense industrial base and workforce,\u201d said Senator Young.\n\nSenator Young worked to secure the following provisions in the Senate-passed NDAA:\n\nEmerging Biotechnology provisions, stemming from Senator Young\u2019s role as chair of the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology. Understanding the national security implications of biotechnology has never been more important, which is why the NDAA includes language that requires the DoD to create a roadmap for harnessing the power of the technology and language that will create an artificial intelligence and biotechnology (AIxBio) sandbox to explore how AIxBio can be leveraged to accomplish national security priorities. The bill also includes efforts to identify potential biotech threats and assess how the People\u2019s Republic of China is using the technology. These provisions are critical to ensuring the U.S. maintains leadership in biotech.\n\nApplicant Medical Reimbursement Act to authorize the Department of Defense to reimburse applicants for co-pays up to $100 for visits to civilian medical providers seen as part of the military application process. This legislation will ensure that military applicants who require additional medical screenings are not required to foot unforeseen medical costs associated with military recruitment.\n\nMulti-Service Advanced Capability Hypersonics Test Bed (MACH-TB) funding to support Naval Surface Warfare Center-Crane Division (NSWC-Crane) in southern Indiana. The advancement of hypersonic weapons systems is a top priority for DoD, and the ability to test them rapidly and affordably is the key to accelerating their development and delivery to our warfighters. The funding authorized will further solidify Crane\u2019s role as the Navy\u2019s Center of Excellence for Hypersonics and its national role in developing and integrating new hypersonic capabilities for both the Navy and DoD as a whole.\n\nAnti-Submarine Warfare Equipment funding to protect our Navy as they are on the forefront of securing vital sea lanes, securing commerce, and reducing threats to the homeland from the navies of China and Russia. Sonobuoys, like those manufactured by Ultra Maritime in Columbia City, Indiana, are a vital tool in detecting and tracking submarine threats from our peer competitors. Senator Young secured an authorization for an additional $25 million to ensure adequate sonobuoy stocks.\n\nAI maritime maneuvering funding to support Trine University and NSWC Crane\u2019s collaborative development of AI-enabled maritime maneuvering and navigation. This appropriation will support STEM education and outreach in Indiana, strengthen resources for the Midwest Defense Corridor, and help train the Hoosier workforce to in AI and advanced manufacturing. Senator Young secured an authorization for an additional $10 million for this program.", 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.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-votes-for-annual-defense-bill-to-address-global-threats-support-our-military/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.9142321068793535, "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"}