Defense Bill Goes To President Biden’s Desk After Senate Passes The Measure

The United States Senate voted overwhelmingly Wednesday in support of the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act, sending the measure on to the President and ensuring its passage for the 61st consecutive year.

"I can’t think of a more necessary bill to pass right now than this," said Sen. Inhofe this morning on the Senate floor.

As he has now for so many years, Sen. Inhofe played a lead role in putting the NDAA together -- although now as the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee rather than Chairman. He told his colleagues that threats posed by Russia, China, Iran, and others served as motivation for him and the others who crafted the final bill.

"Our final product is a responsible, bipartisan path forward," Sen. Inhofe stated, "that strengthens national security and gives our troops the resources, training, equipment, and benefits they need and deserve."

Perhaps what stands out most about the bill is that the 768 billion dollars it authorizes are 25 billion more than what President Biden had recommended.

"I know defense isn’t Biden's top priority," Inhofe said, "but we showed it is a bipartisan priority in this Congress."

The vote was 89-10 in favor.

"That’s three votes stronger than it was a year ago," Sen. Inhofe said in an interview on the way back from the chamber, "and I feel very good about it."

Inhofe says Oklahomans should feel good about what it does for the state: fully funds the KC-46 and B-21 missions at Tinker Air Force Base, fully funds the procurement of the KC-46-A Pegasus tankers at Altus AFB, begins the process of building new dormitories s at Vance AFB, and funds more drone and cyber research at the state's universities, among other things.

The 2022 NDAA also authorizes a 2.7 percent pay hike, both for members of the armed services and DOD’s civilian workforce.

Some aspects of the bill Inhofe doesn't like -- the military justice reforms, for example -- but that was part of the compromise that brought others on board and in the end, made it 61 NDAA's in a row.

"That’s a pretty good indication that there will be a 62," said the Senator.

Although the bill is more expensive than he originally proposed, it’s expected President Biden will sign the NDAA into law.