In defense spending bill, Britt, Tuberville help secure interests in North Alabama

WASHINGTON – Alabama’s U.S. senators joined their colleagues today in voting to pass the FY25 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which authorizes funding and provides guidance for policy at the Department of Defense.

The House approved the spending bill last week and it now goes to President Biden’s desk for his signature.

As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Sen. Tommy Tuberville worked to secure major wins for the Armed Forces and the state of Alabama.

“I am proud of the conservative wins we were able to deliver in this year’s NDAA for Alabama and our great military,” said Tuberville, (R-Auburn). “Alabama is authorized more than $1 billion in critical funding to support our bases, troops, facilities, and the defense industrial base.”

The bill passed the United States Senate by a vote of 85-14.

“The FY25 NDAA ensures the Yellowhammer State remains at the forefront of America’s defenses while modernizing our military’s cutting-edge capabilities and assets, so our warfighters remain the best equipped, trained, and prepared in the world,” said Sen. Katie Britt. “At a time when we live in an increasingly dangerous world with adversaries like China, Iran, and Russia ready to take advantage of any American weakness, it is absolutely imperative we make targeted, strategic investments in our national security.

“This legislation will help put America back on track while providing the incoming Trump administration with the resources to implement a peace through strength doctrine to once again prioritize America First policies.”

In the FY24 NDAA, Britt (R-Montgomery) secured passage of a key amendment directing a study on the feasibility of DOD behavioral health services to U.S. personnel and their dependents when stationed abroad.

In this year’s bill, Britt expanded on that amendment, securing access to specialty behavioral health care under the TRICARE Prime program for members of the Armed Forces and their dependents when stationed abroad. 

“The NDAA also includes major wins for the brave men and women who serve with a needed pay raise and investment in their wellbeing,” she said. “Addressing America’s mental health crisis extends to our Armed Forces, which is why I was committed to finding ways to support the mental health of our servicemembers and their families in this Defense Bill.”

Supports Redstone Arsenal and Anniston Army Depot:

• $40 million for the continued construction of Ground Test Facility Infrastructure.
• $20 million for Defense in Depth as Mission Assurance for Spacecraft Multilevel Security.
• $3 million for Virtual Integrated Testbed and Lab (VITAL) for Trusted Artificial Intelligence Operations (TAO).
• $120 million for Missile Defense Agency special programs.
• $56 million to construct a power generation and microgrid project.
• $3 million to design general purpose warehouse at Anniston Army Depot.
• $14 million to design a small arms warehouse.
• $13.5 million for the Missile Defense Agency’s infrastructure modernization initiative.
• Increased funding for procurement of PIM combat vehicles, which are made at Vehicle Upgrade and Overhaul Center (VUOC) in Anniston.
• Increased funding for procurement of Abrams tanks, which are refurbished at the Anniston Army Depot.
• Increased funding for RDT&E for Stryker Modernization, which are refurbished at the Anniston Army Depot.

Strengthens Alabama’s missile defense industry with more than $725 million in funding:

• $250 million to restore SM-3 IB production.
• $176 million for an additional AN/TPY-2 radar Antenna Equipment Unit.
• $167 million for an additional Patriot launcher.
• $65 million to expand SM-3 IIA production.
• $33.5 million for the development of disruptive technologies.
• $15.5 million for sensors modeling and simulation.
• $3 million for Kinetic, Non-Kinetic Resource Optimization.
• $3 million for Artificial Intelligence Decision Aids for All Domain Operations.
• $10 million for Advanced Reactive Target Simulation.
• $3 million for Hypersonic Kill Vehicle Hardware-In-The-Loop.