July 15, 2022

Friend,

Our service members put their lives on the line every day to protect our freedoms. We must provide our troops with the tools they need to defend our nation against strategic adversaries including Russia, China, Iran, and others threatening our homeland. 

This week, Congress passed the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act. This provides the Defense Department with the resources needed to make critical investments and ensure our military never falls behind. 

The 2023 National Defense Authorization Act will provide the Defense Department with $839.34 billion to support our national security and military readiness. Key provisions include:

• 4.6% pay increase for servicemembers and an additional 2.4% pay increase for enlisted personnel
• Authorizes 13 new ships and $250 million to expand and modernize our shipyards
• Funds the nuclear sea launch missile and prohibits any reduction in the number of intercontinental ballistic missiles
• Establishes a National Hypersonic Initiative to accelerate development of hypersonic missiles
• Saves more than $11 billion through decommissioning and divestments of older, less capable ships and aircraft and other reforms to DOD operations. 
• Authorizes $7 billion for the Pacific Deterrence Initiative to counter China
• Requires a comprehensive review of assistance provided to Ukraine
• Provisions strengthening the US-Taiwan relationship
• Establishes a Parents Bill of Right to secure the rights of parents in their children's education at DOD schools

Included in the authorization package was my amendment to increase transparency for financial institutions that are supporting state sponsors of terrorism, human rights abusers, and corrupt officials. The amendment would require the U.S. Treasury Department to report these transactions to Congress regularly. 

These are just a few of the important provisions I was proud to support. It is imperative that we are working to support and strengthen our nation's defense. As Congress works through Fiscal Year 2023 appropriations, I am working to ensure these spending bills are supporting America's best interests. 

As always, if you want to share an opinion with me or are having difficulty working with a federal agency, please do not hesitate to contact my office. 

On Wisconsin,

Bryan Steil
Member of Congress

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