Crapo, Risch Support America’s Armed Forces with NDAA Passage

Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch (both R-Idaho) voted in support of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), fulfilling Congress’s constitutional duty to “provide for the common defense.”

The FY 2024 NDAA provides both servicemembers and the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) civilian workforce with needed pay raises and increases authorized defense funding.  Republican lawmakers successfully prevented progressive lawmakers from using the military funding bill to advance far-left priorities.  The FY 2024 NDAA also expresses that the United States is committed to NATO and emphasizes the importance of maintaining a unified response to the Russian Federation’s war in Ukraine.

“The provisions in the FY 2024 NDAA deliver much-needed resources for both our active servicemembers and veterans,” said Crapo.  “Idaho’s military personnel and industries continue to receive support by funding and deploying military technologies developed in Idaho.”

“The FY 2024 NDAA ensures our military is equipped to protect our nation and provides a well-deserved pay raise for servicemembers,” said Risch.  “This legislation will strengthen America’s defenses and prioritize recruitment of the best candidates to defend America rather than promoting leftist identity politics.”

Senators Crapo and Risch secured a number of provisions important to the state of Idaho in final passage of the NDAA, including:

• Expanding the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) to Idaho and other western states, providing justice to downwinders affected by radiation from nuclear testing;
• Funding for the Idaho Army National Guard’s Jerome County Regional site;
• Funding for the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and Project Pele, a mobile micro nuclear reactor pilot program on schedule for deployment to the INL by 2025;
• Language to support research for composite alternatives to titanium, including thermoplastics at Funding Advanced Thermoplastics Composite (ATC) Manufacturing in Post Falls, Idaho;
• Funding for the Civil Air Patrol, which has a very active Idaho Wing; and
• Boosting development and deployment of new nuclear technologies and facilitate American nuclear leadership.