On Monday, a ceremony was held at Fort Drum in upstate New York to commemorate the signing of the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act, or H.R. 5515, the $717 billion bill that will fund the military for Fiscal Year 2019.
Vice President Pence delivered the opening remarks, calling President Trump a champion of the military who “always puts our Armed Forces and your families first.”
President Trump referred to the NDAA as “the most significant investment in our military and our warfighters in modern history.” It increases military spending by $17 billion, and includes a 2.6-percent pay increase for military personnel – the largest in nearly a decade.
President @realdonaldtrump signs the John McCain National Defense Authorization Act for the Fiscal Year 2019 during a ceremony in Fort Drum, New York. pic.twitter.com/A0jUhyZ0zH
— Fox News (@FoxNews) August 13, 2018
“We will increase the size and strength of our military by adding thousands of new recruits to active duty, reserve, and national guard units, including 4,000 new active duty soldiers,“ President Trump said.
He vowed to replace aging tanks, planes and ships with “the most advanced and lethal technology ever developed.”
Restoring our national security is a core piece of President @realDonaldTrump‘s agenda to reinvigorate America. Today, that promise is being kept as he signs the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2019.
Read more in 1600 Daily: https://t.co/A68ueVTJ02
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) August 13, 2018
President Trump announced several major new equipment upgrades across the military.
Ground
- 135 brand-new M1 Abrams tanks
- 60 Bradley fighting vehicles
- More than 3,000 joint light-tactical vehicles
Air
- New Blackhawk and Apache helicopters
- 77 new F-35 joint strike fighters
- Full funding for B-21 Raider bomber program
Sea
- 13 new battle force ships and support ships
- A fourth Ford-class aircraft carrier
- Three additional littoral combat ships
President Trump said the bill also includes funding to modernize nuclear arsenal, as well as a major upgrade of missile defense systems.
The bill also allocates $11 billion for military construction, including family housing, and various bonuses and special compensation for high-demand military roles.
It is also the first defense bill since 1996 to be signed into law before Oct. 1. ahead of the fiscal year, Politico reported.
Watch the full ceremony and remarks below:
President Trump Participates in a Signing Ceremony for H.R. 5515 https://t.co/56iRD8Gv9m
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) August 13, 2018
