Today, U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement after voting YES on the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The Fiscal Year 2024 NDAA authorizes a topline of $886.3 billion for national defense programs at the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of Energy, and other national security priorities. Within the legislation, Senator Mullin secured $152 million for Oklahoma’s military installations, and over $122 million in funding for Oklahoma’s higher education aerospace programs and defense industry partners.
“It’s a privilege to represent Oklahoma on the Senate Armed Services Committee and bring home substantive wins for our five world-class military installations,” said Sen. Mullin. “The NDAA includes massive investments for Oklahoma’s military and defense industry, secures a 5.2 percent pay increase for America’s warfighters, and strengthens U.S. defense capabilities to counter foreign threats like Communist China. The NDAA is a must-pass bill for our great state and I’m proud of the work we did in our first year to get this significant bipartisan package across the finish line.”
Mullin championed the following victories included in the FY2024 NDAA:
- $58 million for Tinker Air Force Base’s 3-Bay KC-46 Depot Maintenance Hangar
- $5.8 million for Tinker’s F-35 Aircraft Oxygen Shop
- $76.65 million for Fort Sill’s Microgrid and Backup Power project
- $8.4 million for Vance Air Force Base (AFB)’s Consolidated Undergraduate Pilot Training Center planning and design
- The NDAA also contains a prohibition on divesting of T-1A training aircraft until the U.S. Air Force can certify that simulators are equally or more effective than the current program, which keeps Vance AFB’s flying training mission alive.
- $1.194 million for McAlester Army Ammunition Plant’s new Water Treatment Plant planning and design
- $400K for The Army National Guard Ardmore Readiness Center’s vehicle maintenance shop
- $1.8 million for the Shawnee National Guard Readiness Center
- $60.8 million for U.S. Army Air & Missile Defense Programs that fund OSU’s Counter-UAS Center of Excellence Program
- $51.9 million for U.S. Air Force Manufacturing Technology Programs that fund OU’s Additive manufacturing of aerospace parts research partnership
- $9.67 million for U.S. Army Light Tactical Vehicles Program
- 5.2 percent pay raise for service members to offset inflation.
- Mullin amendment to improve and increase transparency for medical malpractice claims made by service members.
- Mullin amendment to prohibit the DOD from requiring members of the Armed Forces or civilian employees of the DOD to list their gender or pronouns in official correspondence, including email signatures.
- Mullin amendment to require the DOD to ensure all military accessions and promotions are based on individual merit and demonstrated performance.
Oklahoma MilCon Totals:
| Army | McAlester Water Treatment Plant P&D | $1,194,000 |
| Air Force | Tinker Oxygen Shop P&D | $5,800,000 |
| Air Force | Tinker KC-46 Hanger Maintenance | $58,000,000 |
| Air Force | Vance Undergrad Pilot Training Center P&D | $8,400,000 |
| Defense Wide | Fort Sill Microgrid Project | $76,650,000 |
| Army NG | Ardmore Vehicle Shop | $400,000 |
| Army NG | Shawnee Readiness Center | $1,800,000 |
