06.19.18

Sullivan Supports Defense Bill with Vital Icebreaker, Missile Defense, and Indo-Pacific Provisions

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, joined 84 of his colleagues in voting for the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019, which supports $716 billion in defense funding for fiscal year 2019, and includes a 2.6% pay increase for our service members. The legislation includes 29 amendments and provisions secured by Senator Sullivan important to Alaska and the national security of our nation.

“This year’s NDAA provides our troops with the resources, equipment, and training they need to protect our nation against an increasingly complex and diverse array of threats and gives the largest pay raise for our service members in nearly 10 years,” said Senator Sullivan. “This bipartisan bill continues the process of rebuilding our military, which for years had been constrained by sequestered-budgets and Obama administration defense cuts, and it continues to recognize that Alaska’s military capabilities play an important role in our national defense as global threats increase. Working alongside Senator Murkowski and Congressman Young, I’m proud to say that over the past three years we have been able to authorize and secure nearly $1.3 billion in military construction funding for our state.”

“The title of this bill is also more than fitting. Senator McCain has served his country in the Senate for more than three decades, including as the current Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and for decades in the U.S. Navy, including five years as a POW in North Vietnam,” said Senator Sullivan. “He has an unwavering love for his country and has been an example for people of all ages of courage, tenacity and grit. I had the honor of visiting Senator McCain this weekend and he was very much looking forward to the passage of this bill.”

Icebreakers and Arctic Policy:

Senator Sullivan included a number of provisions in the FY2019 NDAA to advance U.S. interests in the Arctic region, including the authorization of 6 Heavy Polar-class Icebreakers for the Coast Guard and a requirement that each military service – the Air Force, Army, Navy, and Marine Corps – produce their own strategy for the Arctic region. The NDAA also includes language to urge the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of State to examine the implications of Russian military activity in the Arctic as it related to U.S. military force posture in the region.

“As I have said many times, while China and Russia recognize the Arctic’s economic, resource, and strategic importance, the U.S. continues to be days late and millions of dollars short,” said Senator Sullivan. “However, with each successive NDAA, Congress continues to make  steady progress to advance our nation’s Arctic presence. This year, we again voted to include the authorization of six U.S. Coast Guard Icebreakers – restoring the Senate’s language from last year. Importantly, we also included a provision to require each U.S. military service to complete their own individual Arctic Strategy.  Our rivals in Moscow and Beijing already acknowledge and are acting upon the Arctic’s geopolitical significance and it is well-past time for the U.S. to do the same.”

Integrating our Missile Defense:

Continuing to lead the effort to grow out nation’s missile defense, Senator Sullivan successfully included eight missile defense provisions in this year’s defense bill, including the first-time requirement to both develop and deploy a layer of space-based sensors.  In addition, Senator Sullivan included important provisions to promote a more integrated missile defense system, to accelerate our defenses against hypersonic weapons, to encourage new strategic opportunities, to work with our allies on missile defense, and to look at additional options to better defend Guam.  Furthermore, the NDAA included a $73 million Missile Defense Agency Unfunded requirement to initiate a missile defense tracking system.

“Building off the success of last year’s missile defense provisions, this year we continued the effort by authorizing the full development and deployment of a space-based sensor layer,” said Senator Sullivan. “This is a big deal. We also doubled-down the process of readying our missile defenses – and those of our allies – against an ever-evolving missile threat. Given the threats we all face, we need a better missile defense to protect Americans, our deployed forces, and our allies. And once again – working in bipartisan fashion – Congress is stepping up to lead this critical missile defense effort.”

Indo-Pacific Leadership:

As a recognized leader on Indo-Pacific issues, Senator Sullivan, using his position on the Senate Armed Services Committee, continued to work to shape our country’s focus in the Indo-Pacific. Among the six provisions the Senator was able to secure was a reaffirmation of the importance of U.S. forces on the Korea Peninsula, a Statement of Policy of Freedom of Navigation, and language reinforcing the 2017 National Security Strategy and 2018 National Defense Strategy’s focus on allies and partnerships.

“As I’ve long been saying, the Indo-Pacific is critically important to our national security and to security across the globe. From the rise of China, to instability from North Korea, to the emergence of India, this year’s defense authorization continues to focus our nation’s attention on this critical region,” said Senator Sullivan.   “Critically, this year’s NDAA also sends an important message about the Senate’s role in foreign policy, makes clear that the U.S. is still the key power in Indo-Pacific, and lets our allies and adversaries know that we’re committed to the Indo-Pacific for decades to come.

Alaska Specific Items:

Alaska MILCON: The FY19 NDAA authorizes $286.8 million for Alaska military construction.

Alaska and the KC-46: Given Alaska’s status as the hub of combat airpower – with incoming F-35A squadrons, a large F-22 presence, and other strategically located aviation assets – these amendments express that the Air Force should, in the short-term, study the possibility of increasing the tanker mission at Eielson AFB due to increase requirements and, in the long-term, take a hard look at basing the OCONUS KC-46A at a strategically-located installation with abundant training opportunities – like Alaska.  

Cold Weather Training: Requires the Department of Defense to analyze current and future cold weather training requirements for all four services and to look for opportunities to expand cold weather training.  Notably, this provision requires an analysis of potential cold weather amphibious landing locations for live fire exercises and an analysis of potential State and tribal partnerships on cold weather training.

Advocate for the Arctic: Strongly urges the Department of Defense finally designate primary responsibly for Arctic defense issues to a Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense.

U.S. Navy Icebreaker Requirements: Requires the Secretary of the Navy to inform the U.S. Coast Guard what equipment they plan to install on the new Polar, Heavy-class Icebreakers.

Innovative Readiness Training: This amendment supports funding future local reserve training projects in Alaska, including Operation Arctic Care, which provides roving medical and dental care to Rural Alaska villages.

Kodiak Spaceport: Given the importance of assured access to space to U.S. national security, this amendment highlights and encourages expanding the Department of Defense’s and the Missile Defense Agency’s use of FAA-licensed spaceports, like the Pacific Spaceport Complex-Alaska on Kodiak Island, as a vital part of our space and missile-defense test missions.

Arctic Search and Rescue: The Alaska National Guard independently developed an Arctic search and rescue package that allows them to respond to potential large-scale mass-casualty events in the Arctic. This amendment brings attention to that effort and encourages the DOD to provide additional resources to field and expand Arctic search and rescue capabilities.

SUSV Replacement: This amendment requires the Department of Defense to conduct a DoD-wide operational needs review and to consider granting rapid acquisition authorities to procure a replacement to the SUSV.

 

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