Defense Bill Passes; Includes Toomey Amendments To Combat Water Contamination, Lessen Reliance on Russian Energy

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) today voted for the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes two important bipartisan provisions he authored combatting water contamination and lessening the military's reliance on Russian energy. The bill passed the Senate by a bipartisan 89-8 vote.

"The NDAA bolsters our national security, protects the American people, and supports our brave men and women serving in the military by providing the resources necessary to train and equip our warfighters," Senator Toomey said. "I am proud to support this legislation, which includes directives to combat water contamination in Bucks and Montgomery Counties and lessen our military's dependence on Russian oil."

The NDAA is an annual bill directing the budget and expenditures of the United States Department of Defense (DOD). The NDAA provides a 2.1 percent pay increase for our troops, reforms Pentagon management, and modernizes the Armed Forces with increased troop levels and new equipment purchases. Additionally, two amendments from Senator Toomey were included in the final bill.

Introduced by Sen. Toomey and cosponsored by Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.), a health study amendment directs the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to examine the health of military service members and residents at Horsham Air Station and the former Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Willow Grove who may have been exposed to military use of perfluorinated chemicals (PFC) that can have adverse health effects.

A second amendment authored by Senator Toomey along with Senator Casey will require the DOD to certify to Congress within four years that the military has reduced its dependence on Russian energy sources for powering U.S. military bases in Europe. The amendment directs DOD to provide regular briefings to Congress on progress toward eliminating acquisition of Russian energy and plans to sustain operations if supplies are disrupted.

More information about both amendments can be found at: https://www.toomey.senate.gov/?p=news&id=1993