“Essential to Ensure America Does Not Fall Behind,” King Lauds Bipartisan Passage of NDAA With Key Nuclear and Cyber Provisions

December 15, 2022
WASHINGTON, D.C.– U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Co-Chair of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, today praised the Senate’s 83-11 passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023. With rising threats from Russia, China, and other adversaries, the annual bipartisan defense bill contains King-led provisions to modernize America’s nuclear defenses, better assess the “will to fight” of allies and enemies, and improve international cyberdefenses. The bill also includes increased support for Ukraine as it fights Russia’s illegal, unprovoked invasion along with improvements to ensure the aid receives proper oversight and does not dangerously deplete America’s own stockpiles.
King also worked to secure provisions to better support the wellbeing of America’s servicemembers. With military suicide ratesat an all-time high, the bill requires the Department of Defense to study and release data on suicides by military occupation, and the Government Accountability Office to study how to improve the transition from military to civilian life.
“This year’s National Defense Authorization Act – named after my friend and colleague Senator Jim Inhofe – is a bipartisan bill that will meet the pressing 21st century national security challenges facing our country,”said Senator King.“As threats from adversaries like Russia and China grow, the legislation is absolutely essential to ensure America does not fall behind. Along with new authorizations to address Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, this bill improves our defensive and offensive hypersonic capabilities, bolsters key cyberdefenses, and will help modernize how we assess the capabilities of our enemies and allies alike. Without these provisions, the credibility of America’s bedrock principle of peace through deterrence would have been put at risk.
“All told, Congress and the Armed Services Committees have once again produced an important, strong, and bipartisan bill,”continued Senator King.“Most importantly, the legislation makes significant investments in the essential core of our Armed Forces – our brave men and women in uniform. Along with a 4.6% pay raise to help servicemembers keep up with rising costs of living, the NDAA will study the suicide epidemic in our military so the Department is better equipped to address this urgent crisis. Today’s overwhelming 83-11 passage of the bill is a testament to the importance of this effort, the selfless service of our Armed Forces, and the dedication of all the Americans who are working to protect our nation.”
TheJames M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023includes King-backed provisions to: