{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://www.blunt.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ContentRecord_id=7E852735-FBD9-4FD1-82DA-DCEFE5F16A5A", "Senate Passes Blunt-Backed Missouri & National Military Priorities in Defense Bill", "2016-12-08", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Roy Blunt", "B000575", "www.blunt.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.) today commended Senate passage of the National Defense Authorization Act, which authorizes funding and provides authorities our military needs to defend the nation. This is the 55th consecutive year Congress has passed the NDAA, and the bill is now on its way to the president\u2019s desk.\u201cWhen we send our troops into harm\u2019s way, it is our job to ensure that they have the tools and resources they need to carry out their missions,\" Blunt said. \"This bill honors that commitment, and includes several defense priorities that are critical for Missouri military installations and personnel, including the largest military pay raise in six years. It also prevents the president from moving terrorist detainees held at Guantanamo Bay to U.S. soil, which the vast majority of Americans opposes. The strong, bipartisan support this bill has received year after year is a testament to its importance for our nation\u2019s security, and I urge the president to sign it without delay.\u201dHere\u2019s More on the Key Blunt-Backed Missouri and National Defense Priorities Included in the Bill:\r\n \r\nTroop Pay Raise \u2013 The bill provides for a well-deserved 2.1 percent pay increase for military personnel. This is the largest pay increase in six years.\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\nNational Geospatial-Intelligence Agency West Headquarters \u2013 The bill authorizes funding for land acquisition and planning and design for the new NGA West facility in North St. Louis. Blunt successfully secured funding for the project in this year\u2019s Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill, which was signed into law in September.\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\nFt. Leonard Wood Fire Station \u2013 The bill authorizes funding for a new fire station at Ft. Leonard Wood. Blunt also secured funding for the project in this year\u2019s MilCon/VA bill.\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\nEnd Strength Increase \u2013 The bill increases end strength levels to help address readiness issues and stabilize the problems that are making it difficult for our troops to accomplish their mission. Blunt has also backed the POSTURE Act, which would reverse ongoing and future reductions to end strength levels in the Active U.S. Army, U.S. Army Reserve, U.S. Army National Guard, Active Marine Corps and Marine Corps Reserve.", 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": ["http://www.blunt.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ContentRecord_id=7E852735-FBD9-4FD1-82DA-DCEFE5F16A5A"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 4.322848981246352, "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"}