Blumenthal Applauds Final Defense Bill Released by NDAA Conference Committee

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), welcomed the final version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2021, announced today by the House-Senate Conference Committee. As a member of the Conference Committee, Blumenthal fought for key provisions to invest in Connecticut’s defense manufacturing workforce and enhance national security.

“This bill’s critical investment in strategic defense tools – submarines, helicopters, and aircraft built in Connecticut – will keep our country secure, our troops supported, and our state’s economy strong. Securing funding for two Virginia Class submarines is a standout victory. Connecticut is the hub of excellence for our nation’s defense industry thanks to the supreme skill and dedication of our manufacturing force. As a member of the Conference Committee and the Senate Armed Services Committee, I am proud to have fought for funding to support thousands of high-quality jobs in Connecticut and to ensure our great armed forces have unmatched resources to keep our nation and themselves safe.”

“I was honored to be a leading sponsor of a provision that will provide a major source of relief to thousands of veterans exposed to Agent Orange. Congress must commit to passing this strong defense bill without delay,” Blumenthal said.

As a member of the Committee tasked with crafting the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2021, Blumenthal championed the following provisions to boost jobs and support critical industries with defense contracts in Connecticut:

Making Strong Investments in Connecticut’s Submarine Industrial Base: Blumenthal fought for robust submarine funding to fortify our undersea superiority and grow Connecticut jobs. Blumenthal secured:

• $2.891 billion to fully fund the first Columbia Class ballistic missile submarine, the boat that will modernize the most survivable leg of the nuclear triad and replace the Ohio Class of ballistic missile submarines.
• $1.298 billion in advance procurement for the Columbia Class, including an additional $130 million above the President’s budget request to invest in submarine supplier development. This funding will support the health of Connecticut submarine suppliers who provide vital services, material, and expertise to both the Columbia and Virginia Class programs.
• $4.620 billion to fully fund two Virginia Class submarines, restoring the cut in the President’s budget request, and over $2.173 billion in advance procurement that will fund future boats, including long lead material to preserve the option for 10 Virginia Class submarines in the Block V contract.
• Robust funding of the future of undersea warfare, including over $250 million to fund New Design SSN research, $149.188 million in advanced Nuclear Power Systems, and over $317 million to fund Ohio Replacement New Design research. These funds will support the ongoing research, development, testing, and evaluation necessary for the Columbia program to remain on schedule for its first deterrent patrol in 2031, and allow Connecticut companies like Electric Boat to continue to produce submarines that maintain the qualitative military edge.

Funding the Future of the F-35: Blumenthal fought to fully fund the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program as Connecticut’s Pratt and Whitney is the sole engine-manufacturer for the only fifth generation fighter in production. The bill includes more than $8.732 billion for 93 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters across the Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps, including an additional 14 aircraft above the President’s budget request (60 F-35A fighters, 10 F-35B fighters, and 23 F-35C fighters). Additionally, Blumenthal secured $610 million in F-35A Advance Procurement funding, $785 million in F-35A Continuous Capability Development and Delivery and $2.228 billion in Spare and Repair Parts, including an additional $30 million above the President’s budget.

Ensuring Robust Production of Helicopters: Blumenthal pushed for strong funding of helicopters, including the CH-53K King Stallion, UH-60M Black Hawk, VH-92A Presidential Executive Helicopter, Combat Rescue Helicopter Program, and Future Vertical Lift Program. Funding of these programs ensures the health of Sikorsky helicopters and countless other Connecticut businesses that support the helicopter industrial base. Blumenthal secured:

• $800.634 million to fund 7 CH-53K King Stallion Helicopters, and over $406.406 million in research, development, test & evaluation funding.
• $725.298 million to fund 21 UH-60M and 15 HH-60M Black Hawk Helicopters.
• $1.147 billion in procurement funding for 19 Combat Rescue Helicopters.
• $589.042 million to fund 5 VH-92A Executive Helicopters.
• $652.937 million to fund Future Vertical Lift Research, Development, Test & Evaluation efforts.
• $63.169 million to fund Combat Rescue Helicopter development and demonstration.

Prioritizing Work Force Development and Stability: Blumenthal secured $20 million to support workforce development and fund investments in the submarine construction workforce training pipeline to support increased hiring needs. It is projected that over the next decade the submarine shipbuilding industry must hire at least 18,000 new skilled workers to support the production of the Columbia and Virginia Class submarines. In addition, Blumenthal championed authorization for Navy contract authority for up to 2 Columbia Class submarines and incremental funding for payments under this contract to ensure cost efficiencies. This authority will help reduce uncertainty among Connecticut’s defense industrial base and help stabilize the workforce.

Establishing a Joint Department of Labor and Navy Task Force on Shipbuilding Workforce: Blumenthal authored a provision creating a Workforce Task Force through the Navy and Department of Labor to assess trends within the shipbuilding workforce, ensure shipbuilders can benefit from existing Department of Labor programs, and provide recommendations to stabilize the shipbuilding industrial base. Together, the funding in workforce development and this provision will ensure that the submarine workforce has the training and education necessary to build a qualified and motivated workforce, with the ability to deliver submarines at the rate required by our nation.

Expanding Opportunities for Partnerships between the Department of Defense and Connecticut Research Institutions: Blumenthal fought to expand opportunities for coordination between Department of Defense research requirements and Connecticut’s talented research universities. Blumenthal secured:

• $10 million above the President’s budget request in funding for Undersea Warfare Applied research for submarine research partnerships between the Navy and academia. This funding will enhance collaboration between the Navy, the University of Connecticut, and Electric Boat – to translate technological advances to emerging Navy undersea vehicles and systems in cost effective ways, to train a highly skilled workforce, and to support increased and sustained submarine production capacity.
• $20 million above the President’s budget request in funding for the Defense Established Program to Simulate Competitive Research (DEPSCOR) program in an effort to expand the base of Universities that support defense research and innovative missions.
• $103.280 million to provide additional competitive grant opportunities for the University of Connecticut and other academic-industry partnerships to develop advanced materials and materials manufacturing processes for the Air Force’s next generation of aerospace materials for hypersonic flight.

Making Strong Investments in Research and Development of Next Generation Military Technology: Blumenthal fought to include more than $6 billion in funding to support investment, research, and development including:

• Almost $1 billion to fund Next Generation Air Dominance research and development and $666 million to fund the Adaptive Engine Transition Program, including $30 million above the President’s budget request. These funds will support Connecticut’s Raytheon Technologies Corporation and Pratt & Whitney’s efforts to design, fabricate, integrate, and test flight-weight adaptive engines for the next generation of combat aircraft.
• $95 million to fund the F119 Aircraft Engine Component Improvement Program and over $648 million in funding for Air Force F-22A Squadrons and Operational Systems Development. The F119 powers the F-22A 5^th generation fighter and these investments support Connecticut’s United Technologies Raytheon Technologies Corporation’s effort to mature adaptive engine technologies and improve the F119 engine program to increase safety and reduce life cycle costs.
• $124 million to fund Army research and development of command, control, communications, and intelligence, including $2 million above the President’s budget request to fund quantum computing technology.

Blumenthal also fought for provisions to protect servicemembers and veterans:

Ensuring Benefits for Veterans Exposed to Agent Orange: For years, Blumenthal has fought for benefits for veterans who suffer from conditions relating to toxic exposure during their service. This year’s NDAA includes legislation that Blumenthal cosponsored, the Fair Care for Vietnam Veterans Act (S.4444). It will ensure that Bladder Cancer, Hypothyroidism, and Parkinsonism – which have been scientifically proven to have an association with exposure to Agent Orange – will now be recognized as presumptively connected to Agent Orange exposure, allowing thousands of veterans to receive the VA care and benefits they earned.

PFAS Free Military Purchasing: This year’s NDAA includes a Blumenthal authorized measure that will prohibit the Department of Defense from acquiring items that contain toxic PFAS chemicals commonly found in food service ware, cookware, carpets, rugs, and upholstered furniture. PFAS exposure has been linked to a number of serious health conditions, including cancer, liver damage, decreased fertility, and increased risk of asthma and thyroid disease. This provision will reduce exposure of servicemembers and their families to harmful PFAS chemicals.

Increase Funding to Study PFAS Contamination in Drinking Water: This NDAA provision, which Blumenthal cosponsored, would increase the funding by $5 million for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study related to PFAS contamination in drinking water.

The Female Body Armor Modernization Act: This year’s NDAA includes the Female Body Armor Modernization Act, bipartisan legislation that Blumenthal authored with U.S. Senators Joni Ernst (R-IA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY). This provision requires that the Pentagon expedite the fielding of a new generation of personal protective equipment (PPE) that will better fit and protect all servicemembers, particularly women. It also authorizes a tracking system and survey questions to determine the prevalence of preventable injuries servicemembers experience that are attributable to ill-fitting PPE. This provision is critical to ensure that women servicemembers have proper-fitting body armor and personal protective equipment.

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