WASHINGTON— U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) voted on Tuesday in support of a bill to keep Connecticut families safe and support the state’s robust aerospace and submarine manufacturing industries. Murphy supported the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2017, which passed the Senate on Tuesday by a vote of 85-13. Earlier this year, Murphy secured increased federal support for Connecticut on the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee in the U.S. Department of Defense Appropriations bill. 

“The United States depends on Connecticut to build the subs, engines and helicopters that our military relies on to keep us safe. At the same time, Connecticut depends on a strong manufacturing industry to provide good paying jobs and support the state’s economy,” said Murphy. “I supported today’s bill, despite some real policy reservations, because it’s good for Connecticut working families. I will keep working on the Appropriations Committee to build on and provide funding for today’s progress.” 

The NDAA approves policy changes at the Pentagon and general funding levels, while the Defense Appropriations bill supplies the funding. As a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, Murphy fought for Connecticut funding priorities to create and sustain good-paying jobs in Connecticut, providing increased funding for Sikorsky Blackhawks helicopters and the UH-1N Replacement Helicopter Program; Advance Procurement for Electric Boat’s Virginia Class Submarines and New SSN Design; and Pratt & Whitney F-135 engines for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. The appropriations bill also includes a Murphy provision to strengthen Buy American transparency. It passed committee last month and now awaits further action on the Senate floor.

Manufacturing plays a crucial role throughout Connecticut communities, creating new jobs and accelerating our state’s economic recovery. Today, Connecticut’s 4,602 manufacturers account for 10.2% of the state’s jobs and 87% of the state’s total exports. In order to protect and grow manufacturing jobs in Connecticut, Murphy has introduced two pieces of legislation that aim to strengthen existing standards and prioritize the purchase of American-made goods, the 21st Century Buy American Act and the American Jobs Matter Act.

National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 passed on Tuesday authorizes funding for: 

  • $5 billion for two Virginia Class submarines
  • $1.5 billion for Ohio Replacement Program submarines
  • $8.5 billion for 63 Joint Strike Fighters
  • $929 million for 36 Black Hawk helicopters
  • $437 million for 2 Marine Corps’ CH-53K helicopters
  • $61 million for the Navy MH-60R Naval Hawk helicopter program
  • $302 million UH-1N helicopters replacement helicopter program
  • $6.3 million for the Small Air Terminal at Bradley International Airport for the Connecticut National Guard