Britt praises defense bill as good for servicemembers, good for Alabama

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December 14, 2023

From her role on the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, and in particular the subcommittee for Homeland Security, Sen. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) has been closely involved with the annual defense budget process, which completed its legislative phase today after passage from both chambers.

Britt reflected on the final product by highlighting portions of the FY2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) she helped secure. In particular, funding for servicemembers and their families’ access to mental healthcare, commonsense border wall funding, and a continued fight for merit-based promotions within the ranks.

“Today, I voted to support the Fiscal Year 2024 NDAA, which contains major wins for Alabama, for our national defense, and for conservatives,” Britt said.

“This legislation includes a 5.2 percent pay raise for our troops, forces the Biden Administration to resume construction of the wall at our southern border, and ensures that all future military promotions are solely based on an individual’s performance and merit.”

Britt said the defense bill takes aim at China as “our greatest geopolitical and national security threat” as well as Iran and Hamas’ unforgivable aggression against Israel and will deliver funds accordingly.

“I’m also especially proud to have included a provision in the NDAA that represents a positive step forward as we continue to work to better support the wellbeing of our servicemembers and their families,” Britt said, referencing an amendment to require the Department of Defense to study military families ability to retain mental healthcare via telehealth services in between between postings.

Britt also drove home an NDAA-included provision that requires the Biden Administration to purpose millions of dollars of unused, ready-to-go border wall panels to build the wall on the Southern Border.

“In addition, this NDAA authorizes more than $316 million for improvements to Alabama’s military bases and National Guard facilities. This is imperative to our state’s ability to continue strengthening our national defense long into the future, and it supports tens of thousands of good-paying jobs in communities across Alabama,” Britt said.

Grayson Everett is the state and political editor for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @Grayson270