Senator Tim Scott Statement on Passage of the NDAA

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) released the following statement on his vote to pass the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

“I’m proud to have fought for a robust increase to military funding in this year’s NDAA, including a pay raise for our troops for the fourth year in a row,” said Senator Scott. “As the world’s fiercest defender of democracy, we must take seriously our responsibility to modernize in order to compete and win against adversaries around the globe. Investing in a strong national defense means American families can sleep easier at night knowing our men and women in uniform have the resources they need to keep us safe.”

Background:

The FY23 NDAA authorizes $847 billion to support U.S. national defense and includes a 4.6% pay increase for the troops and rescinds the onerous COVID vaccine mandate for service members.

The bill invests in advanced weapons systems, including the procurement of hypersonic missiles, to deter aggressors like Russia and China. It also includes a Scott-supported provision that bolsters missile defense integration between the U.S., Israel, and Arab partners to further the goal of stability in the Middle East.

Many of the priorities Senator Scott advocated made it into the final NDAA, including a requirement for each military department to increase transparency in the process used to score the quality of life on military bases, in order to help South Carolina remain one the most military friendly states in the country. The Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) included in the NDAA contained Scott-advocated funding authorizations for projects in Horry County, Myrtle Beach, and North Myrtle Beach, as well as increased funding for Lake Marion Regional Water Agency. Additional South Carolina wins championed by Senator Scott include:

• $10 million, Shaw Air Force Base’s RAPCON Facility
•  $75.9 million, Parris Island’s Recruit Barracks
• $4.8 million, Parris Island’s Ambulatory Care Center Replacement
• $900,000, USMC Air Station Beaufort Fuel Pier Replacement Design
• $1.7 billion, Savannah River Site

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