Isakson Votes to Strengthen America’s Military
10 | August 2018 | Real Hero Report
On August 1, 2018, U.S. Senator
Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., voted
authorization bill to equip and provide
families as they protect our national
security and defend against evolving
global threats.
The John S. McCain 2019 National
Defense Authorization Act (the “Act”)
passed the U.S. Senate by a vote of 87-10.
The annual defense bill will help ensure
that our military assets in Georgia are
protected and that the members of our
all-volunteer service receive the training,
resources, adaptability and equipment
necessary while helping grow personnel
strength in the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force,
U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps. The
measure then moved to President Trump,
who has committed to signing it into law.
“Congress has again stepped up to
with the resources they need to protect
America and our national interests.
Our Georgia military installations will
passed this critical legislation, and that
we have a president who is eager to sign
it into law,” said Isakson.
In addition to delivering all of our
active-duty troops the largest pay increase
in nearly 10 years and providing support
Georgia’s dozen military installations.
At Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base
in St. Marys, Ga., the authorization
provides $3.2 billion for Columbia-class
submarines, which will replace the current
The authorization prohibits the
retirement of any E-8 Joint Surveillance
Target Attack Radar System aircraft
known as JSTARS, which is based at
Robins Air Force Base in Warner Robins,
Ga. Additionally, the bill invests in the
next generation Air Battle Management
System, which the Air Force has already
announced will be hosted at Robins Air
Force Base.
The bill authorizes more funding and
authority to the Department of Defense
to improve cyber-capabilities and cybersecurity
technology training. The increase
in funding and authority will greatly
strengthen capability and capacity at Fort
Gordon, Ga., home to the U.S. Army’s
Cyber Center of Excellence.
Additionally, the legislation supports
modernization efforts across the
Department of Defense as one of four
major themes in the defense bill. Almost
$3 billion is authorized to design, improve
or procure new heavy- and light-armed
vehicles. This will increase the lethality
of U.S. Army armored and infantry units,
which are located at the U.S. Army’s
premier armor and infantry training
programs at Fort Benning, Ga.
The national defense authorization
also includes additional provisions for
C-130J aircraft, including authorizing the
Air Force to enter one or more multiyear
contracts for advanced procurement
of C-130J aircraft. The manufacturing
of these aircraft employs thousands of
Georgians at the Lockheed Martin facility
in Marietta, Ga.
authorizes $616.9 billion in discretionary
funding, $69 billion in overseas
contingency operations, and $8.3 billion
in defense-related activities outside of
Act jurisdiction for a total of $716 billion.
Authorized personnel end-strength
numbers are 487,500 in the Army;
335,400 in the Navy; 186,100 in the U.S.
Marine Corps; and 329,100 in the U.S.
Air Force.
Previously, Isakson supported the
funding measure that was signed into law
in March that strengthened our national
defense and ended crippling cuts to our
national defense by delivering the largest
increase to its funding in 15 years.