Blumenthal Advances National Defense Authorization Bill, Secures Wins for Connecticut

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, applauded the Committee’s approval of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026. Blumenthal championed a number of provisions in the NDAA that promote U.S. national security objectives and bolster Connecticut’s defense industrial base and its workforce, all while improving support for servicemembers across the Department of Defense (DOD). The bill passed out of Committee by a vote of 26-1 and has now moved to the full Senate for consideration.

“This defense authorization bill recognizes Connecticut for its instrumental role as an arsenal of our democracy, and I am proud to have advanced this bill bolstering our defense capabilities. It invests in advanced technologies and the talented workforce committed to building them while also providing increased support for the brave servicemen and women defending our country. As foreign adversaries increasingly target our nation’s influence and security interests, this bill ensures our military is equipped to protect Americans and safeguard our freedoms and democracy,” said Blumenthal.

As a member of the Committee tasked with crafting the NDAA for Fiscal Year 2026, Blumenthal successfully advocated for the inclusion of several provisions that promote our national security interests and defense goals while also investing in Connecticut-based manufacturers and suppliers of vital national security assets, including:

Supporting the Connecticut Defense Industrial Base: Blumenthal championed provisions that bolster Connecticut’s submarine and aircraft industries, sustaining these key businesses whose products uphold a vital segment of Connecticut’s economy and provide the nation with an asymmetric advantage. Blumenthal delivered provisions that:

• Provide $2.016 billion to fund one Virginia Class submarine;
• Provide $3.9 billion to support construction of a Columbia Class ballistic missile submarine;
• Provide $5 billion to support advanced procurement of the Columbia class program, the Navy’s top acquisitions priority;
• Authorize procurement for not more than five Columbia-class submarines;
• Provide $732 million to support multiyear procurement for UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters;
• Provide $1.7 billion to support procurement of Sikorsky’s CH-53K heavy-lift air frames;
• Provide $107 million to support the HH-60W Jolly Green II program, providing the U.S. Air Force with additional platforms to accomplish combat search-and-rescue and personnel recovery missions that save service members’ lives;
• Authorize procurement of 34 F-35A aircraft;
• Establish an Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Armaments Cooperation to improve the Pentagon’s ability to understand allied and partner industrial bases and conduct win-win industrial base integration efforts.

Redoubling Support to Key Partners and Allies: In upholding agreements to help our nation’s allies defend against unwarranted aggression and terror, Blumenthal delivered provisions that:

• Reaffirm that it is the policy of the United States to assist Ukraine in maintaining a credible defense and deterrence capability and to bolster defense and security cooperation with Ukraine to build a Ukrainian military that is capable of defending Ukraine and deterring future aggression;
• Extend the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) through 2028 and increase authorized funding to $500 million;
• Prohibit the reduction in U.S. military force posture in Europe or relinquishment of U.S. command of the Supreme Allied Commander Europe position until the Secretary of Defense assesses the impact on U.S. and NATO interests and certifies to Congress that such action is in the national interest; further directs the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs and the Commander of U.S. European Command to conduct an independent risk assessment of any such changes;
• Require the Secretary of Defense to continue to provide intelligence support, including information, intelligence, and imagery collection to the Government of Ukraine;
• Direct DOD to work with Ukraine to develop a depot-level maintenance plan to ensure that western-transferred military equipment can be sustained;
• Authorize the procurement of the Iron Dome short-range rocket defense system, David’s Sling Weapon System, and Arrow 3 Upper Tier Interceptor Program;
• Authorize increased funding for United States-Israel cooperation to counter unmanned aerial systems;
• Prohibit a reduction in U.S. military posture on the Korean Peninsula or a change in wartime operational control over the Combined Forces Command until the Secretary of Defense certifies to Congress that such action is in the national interest; further direct the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs and the Commanders of Indo-Pacific Command and U.S. Forces Korea to conduct an independent risk assessment of any such changes.

Supporting Servicemembers and their Families: In recognition of the sacrifice of both servicemembers and their families and their essential contributions to our nation’ safety and security, Blumenthal championed provisions that:

• Authorize funding to support a 3.8 percent pay raise for military members;
• Require a briefing on DOD’s implementation of the self-initiated referral process for mental health care;
• Direct a study on the impact of behavioral and mental health staffing shortfalls at military medical treatment facilities;
• Require DOD to publish how housing allowances are calculated, what housing types are covered, and to pilot a new calculation method based on rental costs by bedroom size;
• Require the Secretary of Defense, acting through the Director of the Department of Defense Education Activity (DODEA), to improve staffing of special education teachers and staff, and improve special education offerings at DODEA schools.

Building the Force of the Future: Blumenthal fought for provisions that promote innovation and modernize key technologies in our nation’s arsenal of defense. Such provisions:

• Require United States Cyber Command to develop a roadmap for industry and academic collaboration to build artificial intelligence-enabled cyber tools and technologies;
• Require DOD to develop a roadmap for the small, unmanned aircraft system (sUAS) industrial base to support existing sUAS programs;
• Support the servicemember right to repair initiative by requiring contractors for covered equipment to submit instructions for continued operational readiness necessary for operations, maintenance, installation, and training.

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