House Approves National Defense Authorization Act Conference Report with Newhouse Amendment

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) today released the following statement after voting in favor of the bipartisan Conference Report to Accompany H.R. 5515 - John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (or NDAA). The Conference Report legislation was agreed to with the Senate and passed the House on a bipartisan vote of 359-54. The bill authorizes funding for national defense and national security programs of the Department of Energy, including offices at Hanford, and includes Rep. Newhouse's amendment to reauthorize the Office of River Protection (ORP) in Richland through 2024.

"The federal government has a legal and moral obligation to clean up Hanford safely and efficiently," said Rep. Newhouse. "With the bipartisan approval of this Conference Report, my amendment to reauthorize the Office of River Protection through 2024 will ensure that federal cleanup efforts at the Hanford Site are kept on track by supporting ORP's mission to focus on tank waste. This NDAA funds a pay raise for our troops and provides for the common defense of our nation, and I am proud that it passed the House today with such overwhelming support from both sides of the aisle."

The NDAA Conference Report authorizes funding at $708,171,000 for the Richland Operations Office (RL), an increase from the President's Budget Request of $658,171,000, and $1,438,513 for the Office of River Protection (ORP).

The FY19 NDAA authorizes a total of $708.1 billion in discretionary funding, including $639.1 billion in base budget and $69 billion in Overseas Contingency Operations, giving U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis the tools he needs to restore military readiness. The legislation fully funds a 2.6% pay raise for the troops – the highest increase in nine years.