WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) issued the following statement after Senate passage of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes several key Louisiana priorities he worked to secure and $155,971,000 million for Louisiana’s military bases. Cassidy voted in support of the final package.
“Investing in national security sends a strong message to the world that the United States is always ready to defend itself,” said Dr. Cassidy. “This funding allows Louisiana to support that mission.”
Provisions Cassidy secured for Louisiana in the NDAA include:
|
FY24 National Defense Authorization Act Amount |
Recipient |
Project Description |
|
$7,000,000 |
Barksdale Air Force Base |
307 BW Medical Facility Addition |
|
$2,000,000 |
Barksdale Air Force Base |
Planning and Design for a Child Development Center |
|
$7,000,000 |
Barksdale Air Force Base |
Planning and Design for a Dormitory |
|
$112,000,000 |
Barksdale Air Force Base |
Weapons Generation Facility (Inc 3) |
|
$2,400,000 |
Camp Beauregard |
Planning and Design for Collective Training Unaccompanied Housing Open-Bay |
|
$2,000,000 |
Camp Beauregard |
National Guard Readiness Center |
|
$3,718,000 |
Camp Minden |
Collective Training Unaccompanied Housing, Open Bay |
|
$13,400,000 |
Fort Johnson |
Multipurpose Athletic Field |
|
$6,453,000 |
Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans |
Distribution Switchgear |
In addition to the Louisiana funding secured above, the FY24 NDAA:
- Secures 5.2% pay raise for servicemembers to offset inflation;
- Confronts China with hard power and enhanced regional cooperation;
- Invests in American naval power;
- Provides the Department of Defense Inspector General with enhanced hiring authorities to ensure Ukraine oversight is fully resourced;
- Requires the Pentagon to plan to counter cartels’ human and drug trafficking on the border;
- Allows the Department of Defense to offer cyber security assistance to personnel’s personal devices and accounts;
- Expands Louisiana agricultural exports to Africa, including rice, soybeans, and shrimp;
- Place sanctions on drug cartels that traffic illicit fentanyl and fentanyl precursors and;
- Enable better coordination between the Departments of Labor, Defense, and Veteran Affairs to help veterans transition to civilian employment.
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