WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, applauded the passage of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2019 on Wednesday. The legislation, which will help keep Connecticut families safe and support Connecticut’s defense manufacturing jobs, now heads to the president’s desk to be signed into law. The Appropriations Committee provides the federal funding for the defense priorities outlined in this authorizing bill. As a member of the Appropriations Committee, Murphy works across the aisle to ensure bipartisan support for local manufacturing. 

“Connecticut manufacturers are national leaders when it comes to making the subs, helicopters, and jet engines that keep our country safe. Today’s bill is a huge boost for local jobs,” said Murphy. “I’m going to keep working on the Appropriations Committee to fund these investments.”

The National Defense Authorization Act includes funding authorizations for the following Connecticut priorities:

  • Funds two Virginia-class submarines in FY19, including advanced procurement for future submarines, at $7.618 billion (Electric Boat/Groton)
  • Fully funds the Columbia-class submarine at $3.242 billion, and adds $237 million in funds to expand the submarine industrial base (Electric Boat/Groton)
  • Fully funds 8 CH-53K Heavy Lift Helicopters at $1.068 billion (Sikorsky/Stratford)
  • Funds 77 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters at $7.585 billion (Pratt & Whitney/Middletown)
  • Fully funds 6 VH-92A Presidential Helicopters at $673 million (Sikorsky/Stratford)
  • Fully funds 55 UH-60M Black Hawk Helicopter at $1.2 billion (Sikorsky/Stratford)
  • Fully funds the Combat Rescue Helicopter at $457 million (Sikorsky/Stratford)
  • Provides a 2.6% pay raise to military service members

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