Blumenthal Outlines Proposals to Bolster National Security and Connecticut Defense Industrial Base

(Hartford, CT) – Today, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) outlined his amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which the Senate is expected to debate and vote on later this week. Blumenthal’s proposals will bolster weapons systems manufactured in Connecticut that are vital to our country’s national defense system and are critical to the state's manufacturing base. The Senator will also push for increased protections, including stiffer penalties for predatory lending that harms military service members and their families.

“This defense measure is a solid start but must be made stronger –  better serving our national security and Connecticut manufacturing. The debate and votes this week on the Senate floor will be historic in determining the future of our national defense in coming decades.  I am proud to help draft key provisions providing more funding for submarine manufacturing in Groton and Joint Strike Fighter production in Middletown, but additional steps are vital to support our military in confronting complex challenges around the globe. My amendments are forward-looking – modernizing, for example, the National Guard’s helicopter fleet and enhancing stability and growth for Connecticut’s defense industrial base. Connecticut’s skilled and dedicated defense industry workforce are critical to our national security. To protect our nation’s heroes in uniform, my amendment provides stronger legal tools against predatory lending and other abuses proliferating around military bases and targeting men and women in uniform. I will continue to fight for a sustainable and responsible budget strategy that will end sequestration and will allow us to ensure that all of our nation’s key security priorities are addressed,” Blumenthal stated.

As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Blumenthal played a leading role in drafting the NDAA, which provides necessary resources to enhance our national defense, despite challenging fiscal times. He fought successfully for an additional $800 million in funding for Virginia Class Submarines, and endorses equipping all future attack submarines with an improved payload capability. In addition, the bill provides an additional $1 billion for six more Joint Strike Fighter aircraft for the Marine Corps, and $17 million in military construction for the Connecticut National Guard at two upgraded facilities. The legislation also takes necessary measures to help our troops, with a 1.3% pay raise, and an additional $85 million directed towards improved financial literacy. Furthermore, the bill addresses the issues surrounding the transition of military personnel into civilian life, through provisions Blumenthal wrote establishing a new record of service card upon separation to prevent identity theft, and urging the DoD to discontinue the use of social security numbers on military records. The bill further directs at Blumenthal's request that the DoD stems the tide of opioid prescription drug abuse, and assists military retirees in accessing smoking cessation assistance programs.

Blumenthal supported and worked for the President’s request to authorize $1.56 billion for the procurement of 94 UH-60 Army helicopters, and $969.9 million for the procurement of 29 MH-60R Navy helicopters, with continued development of the CH-53K heavy lift helicopter for the Marine Corps. Blumenthal’s amendment, now that the legislation is under consideration on the Senate floor, authorizes the National Guard to buy 15 additional UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters with the newest configuration needed for overseas missions. One of the most versatile helicopters, the Black Hawk provides reliable and critical medium-lift capability to the National Guard in its state role in homeland defense and in response to emergencies. However, the older helicopters in the Army National Guard's inventory lack the necessary on-board technology required for deployment overseas. Blumenthal’s amendment would provide additional helicopters to the Army National Guard, while also modernizing them with digital cockpits and other necessary technology upgrades in order for them to carry out dangerous missions abroad.

An additional Blumenthal amendment protects service members and their families against financial abuses and exploitation. It significantly enhances penalties for violating the Service Members Civil Relief Act, deterring and punishing such wrongdoing. Doubling the penalties is “a significant step, but by no means a complete solution,” according to Blumenthal. Companies like Sallie Mae have continually committed grave violations of the SCRA, such as wrongful foreclosures, improper repossessions of motor vehicles, wrongful court judgments, and improper denials of the six-percent interest rate that the SCRA guarantees to service members on credit card and car loans. This amendment would stiffen penalties, and would prevent these companies from trying to take advantage of service members in the future.

Blumenthal supports the legislation’s overall goals, however, has concerns that this authorization rather than repealing sequestration-imposed barriers, skirts them through a gimmick of shifting funds into the account specifically reserved for our ongoing war effort, placing national security funding on a precarious footing and also failing to address the harm of funding reductions on other national priorities. Blumenthal will speak on the Senate floor on Monday urging support for Senator Reed’s amendment to help provide both adequate support for our military needs and acknowledge the need for investment in other areas of the budget.

Blumenthal’s amendments filed to the NDAA would:

• Increase the civil penalties for violations of the SCRA. The amendment would increase the civil penalty for a first violation of the SCRA from $55,000 to $110,000 and for a second or subsequent violation from $110,000 to $220,000.

• Increase Aircraft Procurement, Army funding by $247,500,000 to purchase 15 additional Black Hawk UH-60M helicopters for the purposes of Army National Guard modernization. The base NDAA already contains the following for helicopters:

• 1.56 billion for the procurement of 94 UH-60 Army Helicopters.

• $46 million to upgrade 40 UH-60 A model Army Helicopters to L models and report language recognizing the need to make further upgrades to Army National Guard helicopters.

• $969.9 million for the procurement of 29 MH-60R Navy helicopters.

• Support for the Army’s Improved Turbine Engine Program (ITEP) to enhance the performance and efficiency of Army helicopters.

• Expand the duties of the Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness to include requirements that relate to the coordination and cooperation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

• Repeal provisions of the law that prohibit financing of dual use articles, such as helicopters, that are sold overseas.

• Require the DoD to develop a department-wide policy for military personnel to report the dietary supplements that they use to their military healthcare provider. In addition, the DoD’s military electronic health records would be required to capture adverse event report data regarding dietary supplements.

• Finally, dietary supplements that are sold on military bases would be required to meet third-party certification or comply with the Defense Commissary Agency’s strict inventory policy on dietary supplements, in order to enhance the quality, purity, and identity of supplements on the bases but also nationwide.

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