Multiple provisions introduced by U.S. Rep. Martha McSally (R-AZ) were included in the recently passed FY2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). They included full funding for two aircraft at the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, the A-10 and EC-130H Compass Call, and stronger retention and expansion plans for missions at Fort Huachuca.
Earlier this year, the Pentagon released statements through the Defense Department budget that A-10 aircraft would be replaced with F-35 aircraft starting in fiscal 2018. McSally had concerns about retiring aircrafts known for their success in critical missions before the replacements had been proven sufficiently through fly-off testing.
“The legislation includes provisions I advocated for to protect Southern Arizona’s critical military assets, including the A-10 and EC-130H and missions at Fort Huachuca, as well as language I authored to mandate an A-10/F-35 fly-off,” McSally said. “It also increases end strength, preserves our most vital aircraft, includes the largest pay raise for troops in six years, and funds weapon systems […] we need to take on ISIS and other emerging threats. Providing for the common defense is the most important obligation we have to the American people”
The FY2017 NDAA also added provisions specific to McSally’s Congressional district including language to address pharmacy wait times at military medical treatment facilities, funding for 196 Tomahawk missiles to be produced by Raytheon Missile Systems, provisions to support Raytheon’s Joint Air to Ground mollies, and an amendment to streamline the hiring of veterans as U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers and agents along the U.S.-Mexico border.
“I’m proud to see this legislation begin to reverse the atrophying of our armed services and ensure our military has the training, resources, and manpower it needs to keep Americans safe,” McSally said.