On a 329 to 101 vote, Congress has passed an unprecedentedly large Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act.
After weeks of debate regarding what should and shouldn’t be in the big bill, the final legislation comes with a record $840.2 billion price tag, funding a 4.6% pay raise for all military personnel.
The annual authorization legislation in recent years has been steadily increasing in cost: in 2017 funding came to $618.7 billion.
Up to $275 million in the new legislation will go for next-generation capabilities in electronic warfare, artificial intelligence, and hypersonics research and development.
Funding is also being provided for the completion of the 3,100-mile Continental Divide National Scene Trail, which runs through Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico.
The bill additionally includes funding for the construction of two mission headquarter facilities at the Kirtland Air Force Base.
Other features of the legislation include funding for the Digital Marshall Plan, as proposed by Arizona Representative Ruben Gallego, which is designed to build out 5G communications systems for all member countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
The bill, which is $37 million more than what President Biden had originally requested, will in the weeks ahead have to be reconciled with the Senate’s version of the legislation.
By Garry Boulard
