WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) voted on Thursday to support the FY 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Conference Report, which passed the Senate by a vote of 92-7. The bill authorizes significant investments in Connecticut’s defense manufacturers and includes the bipartisan Countering Disinformation and Propaganda Act, which Murphy introduced with U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) earlier this year.

As a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, Murphy successfully worked to pass a U.S. Department of Defense Appropriations bill through Committee earlier this year that appropriated higher levels of funding for Connecticut F-35s and Black Hawk helicopters. Murphy vowed to use his position on the Senate Appropriations Committee to fight to pass the Defense Appropriations bill through Congress next year, and secure higher levels of funding for Connecticut’s defense manufacturing industry.

“Today’s bill is good for Connecticut workers and families,” said Murphy. “It supports good jobs making subs, helicopters and jet engines, and provides the world’s best military hardware for our Armed Forces.

Murphy continued, “I’m proud that Congress solidified Connecticut’s role as a national leader in American defense, but we must do more for the men and women who work hard for a living at the more than 4,000 manufacturing companies across Connecticut. I will keep working on the Appropriations Committee to create new opportunities for Connecticut’s skilled workers.”

The NDAA includes the following priorities for Connecticut:

  • $5 billion for two Virginia Class submarines, including an additional $85 million for advanced procurement for the Virginia Payload Module
  • $1.9 billion for Ohio Replacement Program submarine
  • $8 billion in procurement funding for 63 Joint Strike Fighters
  • $437 million for the CH-53K helicopters
  • $264 million to procure and modernize 53 of a planned 159 UH-60A Black Hawks from the U.S. Army to replace the Mi-17 helicopters for the Afghan National Defense Force
  • $6.3 million for the Small Air Terminal at Bradley International Airport for the Connecticut National Guard
  • A resolution co-sponsored by Murphy and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) commemorating Connecticut’s Submarine Century.

###