Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) Votes to Give Louisiana Troops Largest Pay Raise in a Decade

Statement

U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today voted in favor of a National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would give Louisiana troops their largest pay raise in a decade.

The NDAA authorizes a total of $716 billion for our nation's military. This bill would give the military, including 30,000 members in Louisiana, the largest pay raise in nearly 10 years.

"We have 30,000 troops in Louisiana. Whether they're at Fort Polk, Barksdale Air Force Base, New Orleans or Chalmette, they deserve our unyielding support and respect," said Sen. Kennedy. "They sacrifice everything so that the rest of us can sleep a little bit better at night. A bump in pay is the least we can do for them."

Sen. Kennedy's additions to the NDAA include:

Sen. Kennedy secured language in the NDAA that asks the Air Force for a report and timeline for construction and sequencing of the Weapons Storage Area (WSA) at Barksdale Air Force Base. A designated storage area at Barksdale is imperative to safely hold nuclear weapons and continue Barksdale's growth and economic presence in the region. Sen. Kennedy has been a major advocate for this facility and has pressed the Air Force for essential information and an expedited timeline on the construction and installment process of the WSA.

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