Contact: Caroline Rabbitt (202) 224-2353

Washington, D.C.- Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today issued a statement following the passage of the fiscal year 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) by the Senate:

"The last seven years of President Obama's failed leadership has deprived our military of the resources needed to keep America safe in a more dangerous world. Too few troops receive too little training on equipment and weapons that are too old. But this year's National Defense Authorization Act will begin to reverse some of this damage and ensure our national security once again begins to drive our military budget, rather than our budget setting the strategy. I have great faith in the ability of our men and women in uniform to accomplish any mission for our country, but it's irresponsible to expose them to such great risks.

"In addition to drafting one-sixth of this bill in my role as Chairman of the Air Land Subcommittee, I'm pleased the bill also contains over one dozen of my policy initiatives. These include providing for our common defense, increasing the capabilities and capacity of Arkansas's military installations and defense industrial base, providing important retirement and compensation benefits to our men and women in uniform, initiating the most important defense reform agenda in a generation, and providing much needed oversight of flagging military weapons and technology programs.

"I'm hopeful this bill is the beginning of a new era of military strength in the United States. Arkansas and America will be stronger and safer once it's signed into law. Regrettably, President Obama has already issued a veto threat against this legislation. But the president's veto is ill-advised. Military strength and moral confidence in the defense of America's national security are critical to our prosperity. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the House to resolve any differences between our legislation and sending a final bill to the President for a signature."

Background: The NDAA authorizes $602 billion for the Department of Defense for fiscal year 2017. Click here for a full list of provisions proposed by Senator Cotton.