11.10.15

Sullivan Applauds Passage of NDAA after “Months of Partisan Politics”

Arctic Strategy & OPLAN Provision included in FY16 NDAA

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) joined 90 of his Senate colleagues in passing S. 1356, the latest version of FY2016 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The Act contains all of the major policy provisions passed by the House and Senate earlier this year, but makes minor adjustments to reflect new budget levels established by the Bipartisan Budget Deal of 2015.

“Today, after months of partisan politics from the White House and Senate Democrats, even to the point of holding NDAA hostage, I am pleased to see this bipartisan legislation head to the President’s desk for his signature,” Senator Sullivan said. “Remarkably, this critical bill, which will soon be signed, has now passed 54 years in a row. This defense authorization will give our service members what they need to continue keeping this country safe as they counter new threats from ISIL, a resurgent Russia, and an unstable North Korea. As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I worked hard on this bill from its inception in the Committee. The NDAA now contains reforms to cut bureaucratic red tape and invest in modernizations which will ensure that our Armed Forces continue to be the most agile and lethal in the world.”  

Included in this legislation is an amendment from Senator Sullivan responding to the planned downsizing of the 4-25 Airborne Brigade Combat Team currently stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, AK.

As Russia militarizes the Arctic region, Sen. Sullivan’s amendment requires the Secretary of Defense to create a new military strategy to respond to Russia’s provocative actions in the region and to protect U.S. national security interests. Importantly, Sullivan’s amendment requires a description of an Operation Plan (OPLAN) for the protection of United States citizens, territory, freedom of navigation, and economic and trade interests in the Arctic region. Per definition, this OPLAN will compel the Department of Defense to identify what manpower, weapons systems, equipment, and infrastructure the U.S. needs to ensure American-led peace and stability in the Arctic.

“Like it or not, the United States is late to the game in the Arctic, and we must take action to correct course,” said Senator Sullivan. “My amendment requires the Secretary of Defense to resource a robust strategy and OPLAN that will assess Russia’s rapid militarization of the Arctic – in order to be fully prepared to counter Russia in that region. And while this amendment is a critical early step, many more steps remain to ensuring a U.S.-led effort to safeguard peace and stability.”

Additional Sullivan NDAA Amendments: 

Supporting the Robust Use and Training of F-35As: This amendment expresses the Sense of Congress that the Secretary of the Air Force should consider strategically significant criteria when basing forward deployed F-35As. These criteria – found in abundance in Alaska – include access to sufficient range capabilities and space for training, the ability to robustly train with our international partners, the presence of existing facilities to support operations, limited encroachment, and the minimization of costs. 

Requesting Ground-Based Interceptors System Upgrade Report: This amendment requires the Commander of the United States Northern Command to set forth the status of current and planned efforts to improve the homeland ballistic missile defense capability of the United States and the ground infrastructure at Fort Greely. 

Promoting the Use of FAA-Licensed Spaceports: This amendment highlights the unique importance of spaceports like the Pacific Spaceport Complex-Alaska found on Kodiak Island to the national security space program. The Pacific Spaceport Complex – Alaska has supported numerous launches for Air Force Space Command, including various national security launches. 

Advocating for the Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) Program: This amendment encourages the Department of Defense to continue to utilize the IRT program – which in recent years has been used in Alaska to fund Operation Arctic Care, runway improvements on Kodiak Island, and costal erosion mitigation in Newtok. 

Other Alaska-Related Provisions in NDAA:

F-35: The NDAA also supports the budget request for 57 total F-35 aircraft and includes $5.2 billion to procure 44 F-35As and keep the program on track. The USAF is currently in a public comment period for the Draft-EIS to station the F-35 at Eielson Air Force Base. 

Missile Defense: Funds $400 million above the Department of Defense’s $8.1 billion budget request for missile defense programs. This funding includes $1.28 billion for the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) element of the Ballistic Missile Defense System. Much of the warfighting capabilities for GMD are located at Fort Greely, Alaska.

Missile Defense Sensors: Includes $233.6 million for Missile Defense Sensors and $137.6 million for the Long Range Discriminating Radar (LRDR), which will be located at Clear Air Force Station. 

Taiwan Invited to RED FLAG-Alaska:  The NDAA report states that the conferees “believe that Taiwan should be encouraged to participate in exercises that include realistic air-to-air combat training, including the exercise conducted at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, and Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, commonly referred to as “Red Flag.” 

Alaska Military Construction:

  • $37 million for a F-35A Flight Simulator at Eielson Air Force Base.
  • $34 million for the repair and replacement of a boiler at Eielson Air Force Base’s central heat and power plant.
  • $7.8 million for a Physical Readiness Training Facility at Fort Greely. 

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