Includes measures to strengthen Pease Air National Guard Base, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, and the NH National Guard

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the U.S. Senate approved its version of the Fiscal Year 2016 defense authorization bill, which-together with the associated report-includes over thirty-five provisions authored by U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH). Ayotte included language that better equips our troops, improves military readiness, and supports Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Pease Air National Guard Base, and the New Hampshire National Guard.

"The federal government has no greater responsibility than protecting the American people, and at a time when threats to our country are growing, this important legislation ensures that our troops have the training, equipment, and support they need to protect the United States. I'm especially pleased that the bill addresses key priorities at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and Pease Air National Guard Base, which represent critical national security assets," Ayotte said. "As Chair of the Readiness Subcommittee, which oversees Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC), I am pleased that the legislation opposes the Pentagon's request for another BRAC round. Now is not the time to spend billions of up-front dollars on another BRAC round, especially as costs for the last one have dramatically exceeded expectations."

Ayotte continued: "I am also pleased that the defense bill contains tough provisions I worked to include that would prevent the transfer of Guantanamo detainees to the U.S., force the administration to be more transparent with the American people regarding the nature of the detainees remaining at Guantanamo, and help prevent international transfers that are contrary to American national security interests and undermine the safety of Americans."

HIGHLIGHTS OF AYOTTE PROVISIONS INCLUDED IN THE FY 2016 NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT AND REPORT:

Fighting for Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY) Workers

As Chair of the Senate Armed Services Readiness and Management Support Subcommittee, Ayotte successfully opposed the Administration's request for another BRAC round in 2017. Continuing her strong advocacy for Portsmouth Naval Shipyard workers, Ayotte included report language that makes clear that the Department of Defense should fully reimburse shipyard personnel for lodging and food expenses associated with long-term temporary duty travel.

In light of the importance of the Virginia Class submarine, the legislation includes an increase of $800 million in advance procurement and the full requested amount of $3.3 billion in procurement for the submarines. Senator Ayotte supported this increase and included report language highlighting the national security value of the Virginia Class submarine, the inability of the Navy to fully meet current combatant commander requests for attack submarines, the anticipated shortfall in attack submarines in coming years, and the need for the Navy to procure two Virginia Class submarines per year between fiscal years 2016 and 2020. She consistently has been a staunch advocate for the Virginia Class submarine fleet and the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard workers are critical in maintaining that fleet.

Ensuring Sailors at PNSY Have Suitable and Safe Barracks

After Ayotte visited the junior enlisted barracks at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in May and observed the unacceptable condition of the barracks, she, along with Senators Shaheen and King, worked to include report language highlighting these problems and emphasizing the need for better housing for the sailors at the shipyard. The language notes that the barracks violates building and fire codes, does not have an operational fire suppression system, and features heating, ventilation, air conditioning, power distribution, and lighting systems that are at the end of their life cycle. The same barracks building does not have code compliant fresh air ventilation, in addition to frequently suffering from sewage failures, rodent problems, mold problems, and regular hot water failure. The language presses the Navy to expedite the military construction project to tear down the current barracks and replace it with a new barracks so that the junior enlisted sailors at Portsmouth have the safe and suitable housing they deserve. Less than a month after visiting the barracks and highlighting their unacceptable condition, the Navy moved all sailors out of junior enlisted barracks 191.

Shortening Wait-Times at DoD Child Development Centers

Working to ensure military families and DoD civilians have access to safe, quality, and convenient childcare, Ayotte successfully included report language to hold the Department of Defense accountable for reducing unacceptable wait times at child development centers-including the child development center at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. As of last month, the child development center there has a wait time that exceeds nine months, and more than 110 children are waiting to enroll. Ayotte's report language requires the Secretary of Defense to submit a report detailing wait times at Department of Defense child development centers around the world and presses the department to reduce those wait times.

Holding the Air Force Accountable for the Haven Well Contamination

Senator Ayotte, joined by Senator Shaheen, worked to include report language that presses the Air Force to identify and notify those who may have been exposed to perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) that were found last year in the Haven Well at the Pease International Tradeport in Portsmouth. The presence of PFCs is likely due to the Air Force's past use of firefighting foam at Pease. The language requires the Air Force to report to Congress on its progress by September 30.

Fighting Heroin Trafficking

The SASC-passed NDAA authorizes a $30 million increase in funding for U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) drug interdiction and counterdrug activities in order to detect, monitor, and interdict illicit drug trafficking. Senator Ayotte supported this provision and successfully added report language that highlighted the devastating impact of heroin on U.S. communities and pressed SOUTHCOM to combat the growth in trafficking of heroin.

Supporting Pease and the KC-46A

As Chair of the Readiness Subcommittee, which oversees military construction, Ayotte worked successfully to authorize a $2.8 million project to upgrade the flight simulator building at Pease Air National Guard Base to prepare for the arrival of the KC-46A. She also worked successfully to authorize a $1.3 million request for a KC-46A trainer. Both projects will improve KC-46A crew proficiency and safety.

Advocating for the New Hampshire Army National Guard

Based on her strong support for the New Hampshire National Guard and her concerns regarding reductions in the size of the Army at a time when the threats to our country are increasing, Senator Ayotte led a successful effort with Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) to include a provision to prevent dangerous Army National Guard endstrength reductions.

Ensuring Our Troops Have the Best Equipment

As Chair of the Readiness Subcommittee, which oversees Department of Defense acquisition policy, Ayotte worked successfully to include important legislation that prohibits the use of reverse auction or lowest price technically acceptable contracting methods for the procurement of personal protective equipment, like body armor and helmets, where the level of quality or failure of the item could result in combat casualties. In combat and in training, quality personal protective equipment can save lives.

Helping Victims of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Military Sexual Trauma

Ayotte included language to establish a pilot program to treat members of the Armed Forces suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder resulting from military sexual trauma. The pilot program would award grants to community partner health care organizations to carry out outpatient programs using evidence-based treatment strategies while sharing best practices among the grant recipient community for further development. This pilot program can improve New Hampshire service member's access to innovative treatment by making available new avenues to participate in purpose-designed programs.

Guantanamo Bay

Senator Ayotte helped lead efforts to include key provisions in the defense bill related to Guantanamo Bay. She worked successfully to include provisions that would renew prohibitions on the transfer of Guantanamo Bay detainees to the United States and prohibit the construction and modification of facilities in the United States for purpose of housing Guantanamo Bay detainees. She also worked successfully to include language that would reinstate tougher standards for the international transfer of Guantanamo detainees. Additionally, Senator Ayotte included an amendment that would prohibit the transfer of any detainees to Yemen. She also included an amendment that increases transparency for the American people by requiring an unclassified report detailing the terrorist affiliations of Guantanamo detainees and their previous terrorist activities against Americans and our allies.

Supporting Military Families

Based on her belief that military families serve and sacrifice alongside service members and are entitled to the benefits families have helped earn, Senator Ayotte worked successfully to include language in the bill that would provide transitional compensation to dependents of retirement eligible service members who lose their benefits due to misconduct. Ayotte also worked successfully to include a provision expressing Congress's view that military juries should not face the difficult choice between imposing a fair sentence on military members guilty of a crime and protecting the benefits of a member of the Armed Forces for the sake of innocent family members. Ayotte's efforts on behalf of military families have been endorsed by the Military Officer's Association of America (MOAA), The National Military Family Association, The Fleet Reserve Association, The Association of the United States Army, The Military Order of the Purple Heart, The United States Army Warrant Officers Association, The Air Force Women's Officer Association, and The Retired Enlisted Association.

Supporting Our Ground Troops by Preventing the Premature Retirement of the A-10

Ayotte has led the effort in the United States Senate to ensure our ground troops have the close air support they need to accomplish their missions and return home safely. The defense bill approved today by the Senate includes language Ayotte fought to include that prohibits the Air Force from prematurely retiring the A-10-an aircraft widely viewed as our nation's best close air support aircraft.

The committee report language on the A-10 highlights its deployment to Iraq and Syria to fight the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), as well as the A-10s deployment to Europe. The report language expresses the committee's view that the premature divestment of the A-10 would incur "unacceptable risk in the capacity and readiness of the combat air forces without a suitable replacement available."

Opposing Iran's ICBM Program

Continuing her efforts to draw attention to threat posed by Iran's intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) program, Senator Ayotte included report language in the NDAA that expresses the Committee's concerns about Iran's ICBM program and presses the administration to submit a report on Iran's ICBM program that was due in January.

In February, Iran successfully launched the Safir long-range missile system, which experts believe can help Iran achieve an ICBM capability. Last year, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said, "We judge that Iran would choose a ballistic missile as its preferred method of delivering nuclear weapons..." Despite that fact, according to public reports, ICBMs have not been on the table during the P5+1 negotiations with Iran regarding their nuclear program.