Senator Rosen Secured Provisions To Invest In Nellis AFB, Modernize The Nevada Test And Training Range, Strengthen Cybersecurity, Combat Iranian Aggression, And More
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, voted to pass the bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024, which she helped write and negotiate. The national defense package delivers a 5.2 percent pay raise to America’s servicemembers, authorizes critical investments in military technologies, and authorizes new and ongoing construction projects at Nevada’s national security installations.
This year’s package includes 8 Rosen-led victories – including her bipartisan Maritime Architecture and Response to International Terrorism in the Middle East (MARITIME) Act to counter maritime threats posed by Iran and its proxies; her bipartisan Department of Defense Civilian Cybersecurity Reserve Act authorizing a reserve of qualified civilian cybersecurity personnel to respond to malicious cyberattacks; and her bipartisan Taiwan Cybersecurity Resiliency Act to bolster cybersecurity cooperation with Taiwan to help them counter cyber threats from China.
The national defense bill also includes key priorities for Nevada national security installations and servicemembers – This package authorizes $80 million for the ongoing mining and construction project at the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS), which will host the most capable weapons radiographic system in the world and verify the reliability of our nation’s nuclear stockpile. It also includes nearly $22.5 million in design funding for military construction projects in Nevada. Additionally, the bill does not include funding for the storage of defense nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain.
“I helped negotiate and pass this year’s national defense package to deliver for Nevada’s national security installations and our servicemembers. I’m proud to have helped secure a well-deserved pay raise for our servicemembers and strengthen our nation’s cybersecurity,” said Senator Rosen. “As a member of the Armed Services Committee, I’ll keep working across the aisle to deliver results for Nevada, support our troops, and fight for our state’s priorities.”
Rosen-led bipartisan bills in the FY24 NDAA include:
- Maritime Architecture and Response to International Terrorism in the Middle East (MARITIME) Act: Requires the Department of Defense to develop a strategy between the U.S., Israel, and Arab partners and allies in the Middle East to counter maritime threats posed by Iran, violent extremist organizations, and criminal networks.
- Taiwan Cybersecurity Resiliency Act: Requires the Department of Defense to expand cybersecurity cooperation with Taiwan to help them counter cyber threats from China.
- Department of Defense Civilian Cybersecurity Reserve Act: Authorizes a Civilian Cybersecurity Reserve pilot program to provide the Department of Defense with qualified civilian cybersecurity personnel to serve in reserve capacities to ensure the U.S. government has the talent needed to respond to malicious cyber activity, especially at times of greatest need.
- Federal Data Center Enhancement Act: Requires a government-wide effort to develop strong minimum requirements for federal data centers related to cyber intrusions, data center availability, mission-critical uptime, and resilience against physical attacks, wildfires, and other natural disasters.
Rosen-led priorities for Nevada include:
- Nevada Test and Training Range modernization: Senator Rosen worked with members of the Nevada Congressional Delegation as well as the U.S. Air Force, the Department of Interior, and local stakeholders to craft a proposal to modernize the Nevada Test and Training Range and protect public access. Modernization, a top priority for the Air Force, will allow for the placement of electronic threat emitters within the range and provide pilots with realistic air combat training to defeat threats they would encounter in a potential conflict with a near-peer adversary.
- $13.7 million for New Facilities at Nellis Air Force Base: Senator Rosen helped secure funding for new facilities at Nellis Air Force Base, including:
- A new dormitory.
- A new F-35 Data Lab Support Facility.
- A new F-35 aircraft hangar.
- Nearly $8.8 million for Nevada Army National Guard training facilities: Senator Rosen helped secure funding for a Combined Support Maintenance Shop and General Instruction Facility at the Floyd Edsall Training Center in North Las Vegas, as well as for the Ready Building at the Harry Reid Training Center in Stead, NV.
- No funding for Yucca Mountain: Thanks to Senator Rosen’s efforts on the Senate Armed Services Committee, this year’s NDAA once again does not include any funding authorization for defense nuclear waste storage at Yucca Mountain.
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