Today, Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) applauded the Senate passage of the FY2018 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which included several key provisions introduced by Senator Tillis that will make critical improvements to Camp Lejeune and Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, provide an across the board pay raise for servicemembers, and implement important reforms that will make life easier for military families. Senator Tillis chairs the Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel , which has oversight over half of the Pentagon’s budget. On a bipartisan basis, Senator Tillis and his subcommittee colleagues pushed through an across the board 2.1% pay raise for our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines. The subcommittee also championed major changes in TRICARE that would benefit North Carolina’s Guardsmen and Reservists.
 
“The Senate passage of the NDAA reaffirms our nation’s commitment to supporting the brave men and women in uniform and reestablishes America’s commitment to a strong national defense and protecting its interest abroad,” said Senator Tillis. “I’m pleased that my provisions to upgrade Camp Lejeune and Cherry Point, improve military family readiness, and direct the DoD & VA to collaborate closely on establishing interoperability with the new Electronic Health Record are included. I want to thank my colleagues on the Senate Armed Services Committee for this bipartisan effort that will positively affect our North Carolina installations, servicemembers, and military families.”
 
The Senate version of the NDAA contains the following provisions that were secured by Senator Tillis:
 
Helping veterans exposed to toxic burn pits
The Helping Veterans Exposed to Burn Pits Act, bipartisan legislation introduced by Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) earlier this year that would create a center of excellence within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to better understand the health effects associated with burn pits and treat veterans who become sick after exposure. Last year, Klobuchar testified before the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee to discuss the need to dedicate staff and resources to exposure diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of health.
 
Requiring DOD Report on Cyber Security Risks to National Electric Grid
The Securing the Electric Grid to Protect Military Readiness Act of 2017, bipartisan legislation introduced by Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) earlier this year that would require the Department of Defense (DOD) to issue a one-time report on significant security risks to the national electric grid and the effects of those risks on military readiness.
 
Modernizing the DoD & VA healthcare collaboration
Earlier this year, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary David Shulkin announced that the VA will adopt the same Electronic Health Record (EHR) system as the Department of Defense for veterans’ medical records.
 
Tillis’ provisions expand authority and allow military treatment facilities to provide health care to servicemembers, dependents, veterans and civilians. The services can maintain critical wartime medical readiness skills while also providing state of the art specialty care to underserved medical communities. Tillis’ provisions would:
 

• Require the Secretary of Defense to conduct a pilot program to establish integrated health care delivery systems among the military health system, other federal health systems, and private sector integrated health systems.
• Require a Comptroller General report of Department of Defense measures to maintain critical wartime medical readiness skills and core competencies of health care providers.

 
Expanded Eligibility for TRICARE Reserve Select and TRICARE Retired Reserve
 
Expands eligibility for TRICARE to allow Guardsmen and Reservists who are eligible for the Federal Employees Health Benefit to purchase TRICARE Reserve Select or TRICARE Retired Reserve.
 
Military Family Readiness
 

• Authorizes $25 million in supplemental impact aid to local educational agencies with military dependent children and $10 million in impact aid for schools with military dependent children with severe disabilities.
• Authorizes $1 million for a pilot program to develop a public-private partnership on military spousal employment.
• Authorizes $1 million for a pilot program on public-private partnerships for telework facilities on military installations outside the United States.

 
FY18 Military Construction Budget for North Carolina
 
Camp Lejeune
 
Tillis’ provisions allow Camp Lejeune to make much needed improvement to the living quarters and other essential facilities.
 

1. $37.983M – Bachelor Enlisted Quarters
2. $65.784M – Water Treatment Plant Replacement Hadnot Point
3. $15.3M – Ambulatory Care Center Addition (Defense Health Agency)
4. $21.4M – Ambulatory Care Center/Dental Clinic (Defense Health Agency)
5. $22.0M – Ambulatory Care Center/Dental Clinic (Defense Health Agency)
6. $10.8M – SOF Human Performance Training Center (SOCOM)
7. $20.539M – SOF Motor Transport Maintenance Facility (SOCOM)
8. $64.29M – Radio Battalion Complex, Phase 2

$258.09M – Total
 
Cherry Point
 
Tillis’ provisions for Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point guarantees the construction of the Vertical Lift Fan Test Facility and secures the future home of F-35B Joint Strike Fighters in North Carolina.

1. $15.671M – F-35B Vertical Lift Fan Test Facility

$15.671M – Total
 
Seymour Johnson
 
Tillis’ provisions paves the way for a squadron of KC-46 Air Force Tankers.
 

1. $6.4M – KC-46A ADAL for Alt Mission Storage
2. $20.0M – Tanker Truck Delivery System (Defense Logistics Agency)

$26.4M – Total
 
Fort Bragg
 

1. $20.26M – SOF Human Performance Training Center (SOCOM)
2. $13.518M – SOF Support Battalion Admin Facility (SOCOM)
3. $20.0M – SOF Tactical Equipment Maintenance Facility (SOCOM)
4. $4.0M – SOF Telecom Reliability Improvements (SOCOM)

$57.778M – Total
 
North Carolina Total
$357,947,000