Courtney appointed to FY12 National Defense Authorization Act Conference Committee

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Joe Courtney today was appointed to the conference committee for the FY12 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which sets the federal budget for the Department of Defense for the next fiscal year 2012. The bill authorizes billions of dollars of investments for Electric Boat and other key defense priorities for eastern Connecticut and the state.

"In these difficult fiscal times, making every penny in the defense budget count must be a top national security priority," said Congressman Courtney. "The NDAA includes numerous projects that are critical for eastern Connecticut, including continued submarine production, the economic benefits of which ripple across our state. I look forward to working with my House and Senate colleagues on the committee to ensure that our men and women in uniform have the tools they need to continue to keep our country safe."

The House-passed version of the NDAA includes a bipartisan amendment offered by Congressman Courtney to expand the Troops to Teachers (TTT) program. TTT offers educational stipends to qualifying veterans who wish to transition to careers in education. The amendment reduces the service requirement, allowing more Iraq and Afghanistan veterans to participate in the program.

Below are selected provisions of the House-passed bill:

Major CT Programs:

•Virginia Class Submarines. The bill fully supports the procurement of the two submarines requested in the President's budget. Of the $4.8 billion provided for the program, $3.2 billion is for the two 2012 submarines and $1.5 billion is for advanced procurement for 2013 and 2014. In 2007 – his first year in Congress – Courtney secured $588 million to acquire the long lead materials needed to beginning building two submarines a year in 2011, a year earlier than the Navy's plan at the time. Courtney's effort came to fruition in FY11 and was solidified with NDAA passage today.

•Development of the replacement Ohio-Class SSBN. The bill fully supports the president's budget request of for the development of the SSBN(x), including $1.067 billion for the OHIO-class replacement submarine. That total includes $781.6 million for advanced development of the submarine and $285.4 million for development of the submarine's advanced nuclear power systems.

•C-27 Spartan. The bill authorizes the president's request of $480 million for nine aircraft, which will serve as the future mission of the Connecticut Air National Guard and will serve as a critical element in the National Guard's ability to carry out their federal and state airlift missions at home and abroad.

Other Major Provisions:

•Military Pay Raise. The bill authorizes an across-the-board 1.6% pay increase for military personnel, equal to the president's request. It is the 12th year in a row that military pay increases would exceed those of the private sector. This raise would match the pay raise rate in the private sector as measured by the Employment Cost Index.

Rep. Courtney Initiative Approved:

•Level funding for PTAP. The bill increases the Procurement Technical Assistance Program by $6 million, requested by Congressman Courtney, to provide level funding for the program in 2012 ($30 million). PTAP supports offices across the country that help connect small businesses with contracting opportunities in the federal government. Connecticut's PTAP Center is located in New London, working out of SECTER.

Congressman Joe Courtney is the sole member of the Connecticut Congressional Delegation to sit on the House Armed Services Committee.