06.14.16

Sullivan Fights for Arctic and Alaska Defense Priorities

Secures twenty-three provisions in the National Defense Authorization Bill

WASHINGTON, DC – Today the United States Senate, with U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan’s (R-AK) support, passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2017 by a vote of 85-13. This bill authorizes $602 billion in critical defense spending and includes numerous Arctic and Alaska priorities.

“As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I know that our military depends on the annual defense authorization to ensure that our fighting men and women have everything they need to protect our nation against an increasingly complex and diverse array of global threats,” said Senator Sullivan.  “From near-peer adversaries like a resurgent Russia and an emergent China, to unstable and unpredictable threats from ISIS and North Korea, I fought to include provisions in this bill that will ensure that our troops get the best equipment and training, and that our nation is assertively responding to growing threats in regions like the Asia-Pacific and the Arctic. 

“Our servicemen and women know that the United States military is still the greatest, most well-trained, and best-equipped force anywhere in the world. While not perfect, this legislation also makes some important structural reforms – such as reducing the number of National Security Council staff and cutting red tape in the Pentagon – to ensure that our military is more efficient and even more lethal.”

Provisions secured by Senator Sullivan: 

Working with many of his colleagues on both sides of the aisle, Senator Sullivan successfully included 23 provisions in the Senate-passed version of the FY 2017 NDAA. His amendments advanced initiatives that will play an important role in ensuring Alaska’s and America’s long-term security.

Arctic Strategic Port Designation: 

“The Arctic is a rapidly growing area of strategic importance and many of our security leaders acknowledge that we’re late to recognize that fact. Last year, I pushed the Department of Defense to write a new, threat-based strategy for the Arctic and this year, I included long-overdue language to drive development of critical port infrastructure in the Arctic to address increasing activity and mission requirements. As we continue to fight for icebreakers and increased presence in the Arctic, we must also plan for the docks and infrastructure needed to better supply and sustain that added presence,” Senator Sullivan said.

Senator Sullivan’s amendment requires the secretary of defense – in coordination with the Coast Guard and other relevant federal agencies – to both create the designation and associated criteria for a “Strategic Arctic Port” and submit a plan, within two years, to begin the process of designating, and where needed, developing the infrastructure needed. 

Missile Defense: 

“Last week, I visited the Demilitarized Zone on the Korean Peninsula,” Senator Sullivan said. “The morning of my visit, North Korea conducted another missile test off its eastern coast. While that test failed, North Korea’s investment in advancing ballistic missile and nuclear weapons programs means that these tests will not always end in failure. As a result, our nation’s missile defense system is more important than ever, and in order to ensure the system’s effectiveness, give confidence to the warfighters, and provide a credible deterrent to rogue nations, I believe that we need to visibly test our critical missile defense apparatus at least once a year.”

Senator Sullivan’s amendment mandates that the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) conduct a flight test at least once per year to show Americans and, more importantly, North Korea that we have a missile defense system that will protect this country – and its citizens – from the irrational threats and actions of North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-un.

Additional Strategic Priorities for Alaska:

“I’ve often said that Alaska has a triad of military power, and in this bill, I worked to reaffirm that triad,” said Senator Sullivan. “I successfully fought to include provisions to help ensure Alaska’s F-35As arrive with the maintainers they need to fly, and to show congressional affirmation for the Army’s decision to halt the reduction of the 4-25 Infantry Brigade Combat Team. Additionally, I was pleased to include the Rural Guard Act, first sponsored by Congressman Don Young, ensuring that Alaska Guardsmen living in remote locations no longer have to pay out of pocket just to go to training.”

Background on Senator Sullivan Provisions:

Missile Defense Defend and Deter Act:

  • This amendment requires the Missile Defense Agency to conduct a flight test of the ground-based midcourse defense segment of the ballistic missile defense system, like those at Ft. Greely, at least once every fiscal year.

Arctic Strategic Port Designation:

  • This important amendment would require the secretary of defense – consulting with the Coast Guard and others – to create the designation of a “strategic Arctic port” to create a security need for appropriate investment of surge-type infrastructure in the Arctic. The intention is to allow for better response to maritime warning, search and rescue, and oil spill response missions, among others. 

High Cost Energy Report:

  • This amendment requires a long-overdue and much-needed report on the Department of Defense’s efforts to reduce the cost of energy at the installations that need it most, those in the highest 20% of all military installations, like many of those in Alaska.

KC-46 OCONUS Basing:

  • Given Alaska’s status as the hub of combat airpower, with the F-35A squadrons, large F-22 presence, and other strategically located aviation assets, this amendment expresses the sense of Congress that the Air Force should give basing preference to airbases that have ample training opportunities, a strategic location, and sufficient airfield and airspace—characteristics that are abundantly found in Alaska—when considering OCONUS locations for basing the KC-46A.

Remote Travel Reimbursement for National Guard Members:

  • This amendment allows the secretary of defense to authorize higher reimbursement to reservists and guardsmen that reside in the same state as the inactive duty training location, reside outside of a population of 50,000 or more, or must commute via aircraft or boat from a distance of 75 miles or greater.

Congressional Support for Keeping the 4-25 Brigade Combat Team in Alaska:

  • This amendment states the support of senior DoD leadership for the decision to halt the reduction of Alaska’s 4-25 IBCT (ABN), affirms the importance of forward-based forces like the 4-25 IBCT (ABN) to deterring aggression, and encourages the Army to reassess its force structure based on the changing global security environment. 

Arctic Search and Rescue Report:

  • This amendment directs the DOD to develop a strategic plan for resourcing Arctic capabilities like the Arctic Sustainment Package (ASP) and the tactics, techniques, and procedures required to test and deploy these capabilities.

FAA State-Sponsored Spaceports:

  • This amendment highlights the unique importance of the Pacific Spaceport Complex-Alaska (PSCA) on Kodiak Island and expresses the belief that this facility can be used to support the national security space program from the Department of Defense (DOD), Air Force Space Command, Operationally Responsive Space Office, and Missile Defense Agency.

HH-60/Combat Rescue Helicopter Report:

  • This amendment ensures that the HH-60G (the helicopter that the Alaska Air National Guard Combat Rescue Squadron flies) continues to be maintained, aircrew trained, and supported until Alaska gets the new Combat Rescue Helicopters in 2027-2028.

Innovative Readiness Training (IRT):   

  • This amendment expresses the understanding of the value of the IRT program and encourages the Department of Defense to continue to utilize the IRT for programs across the country, including ones in Alaska, such as the runway construction in Old Harbor and Operation Arctic Care (roving medical and dental care in rural Alaskan villages).

High-Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) Land Transfer:

  • This amendment directs the U.S. Air Force to convey the HAARP facility to the University of Alaska, and its surrounding areas to AHTNA, Inc., which originally owned the underlying land. Senator Sullivan worked closely with Senator Lisa Murkowski and Congressman Don Young on this important issue.

Galena Land Transfer:

  • A priority of the Alaska congressional delegation, this amendment transfers 1,300 acres of land from the U.S. Air Force on Campion Air Force Radar Station to the town of Galena.

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