WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Congressman Austin Scott (GA-08) made the following statement after the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) approved H.R. 2810, the Fiscal Year 2018 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which would provide funding for our nation’s military, including $695.9 billion in base budget national defense funding and Overseas Contingency Operations accounts. The bill passed the Committee by a vote of 60 to 1.

“As Members of Congress, our most important duty is to provide for our nation’s military and serve our war fighters and veterans. After nearly 13 hours of debate, the Committee approved legislation providing critical resources and reforms for our military to tackle 21^st century threats,” said Rep. Scott.

Rep. Scott continued: “I am also very pleased that five bipartisan amendments I introduced focusing on recapitalizing of the critical JSTARS fleet and training and recruitment of combat pilots and cyber security and defense personnel were included in the Committee’s final mark. I now urge the House to act on this important legislation to make key reforms and repairs to our nation’s military and provide for our warfighters.

“I am proud to represent Robins Air Force Base and Moody Air Force Base in Congress, and I will continue to push for new missions for our bases.”

Rep. Scott offered five bipartisan amendments, all of which were adopted by the Committee:

• COMBAT PILOT READINESS: The first amendment would address the disparity between combat pilot training and the lack of budgetary and programmatic attention to address it.
• JSTARS RECAPITALIZATION: Rep. Scott offered an amendment aimed at supporting and protecting the critically important JSTARS fleet, which is based at Robins Air Force Base. Additionally, JSTARS will receive $417 million for recapitalization efforts, four times more than in FY17 NDAA.
• ROTC CYBER INSTITUTES AT THE SENIOR MILITARY COLLEGES: Rep. Scott offered an amendment to create a Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) Cyber Institute to address the Air Force and Department of Defense’s needs to train and recruit individuals into the fields of cyber security and cyber defense. Including at:
  • University of North Georgia; Dahlonega, GA
  • Norwich University; Northfield, VT
  • Texas A&M University; College Station, TX
  • The Citadel; Charleston, S.C.
  • Virginia Military Institute; Lexington, VA
  • Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech); Blacksburg, VA
• SMALL ARMS MODERNIZATION: The fourth amendment would support modernization of the U.S. Army’s small arms acquisitions and capabilities by directing the Secretary of the Army to conduct and present to HASC a briefing on the advisability and feasibility of developing a small arms acquisition process, in particular for free-float rail systems for service rifles.
• TRICARE: Rep. Scott also offered an amendment to ensure a regular update of prescription drug pricing standards under the TRICARE retail pharmacy program.

Rep. Scott also co-sponsored a handful of amendments, including preventing Base Realignment and Closures (BRACs), creating a pilot program on modernization electronic warfare, reauthorizing the Multi-Trade Demonstration Project, requiring a biennia report on core depot-level maintenance and repair capabilities, and requiring a report to the Committee on the narcotics flow to the United States from Central and South America.

The only member of the Georgia Congressional Delegation on HASC, Congressman Scott serves on the Subcommittee on Readiness and the Subcommittee on Readiness and represents Robins and Moody Air Force Bases.

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