Hickenlooper Cheers Passage of Colorado Priorities in Annual Defense Bill

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper applauded Senate passage of the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which sets national security policy and recommended spending levels for the Department of Defense. This final version, called a conference report, resolved differences between the initial House and Senate versions of the NDAA, which passed earlier this year.

“This is bipartisanship at work! The House and Senate rose above politics to deliver for Colorado and our military,” said Hickenlooper. “This legislation invests in service members and their families, as well as our national security.”

Hickenlooper secured many legislative provisions in the final NDAA, including:

• Hickenlooper’s bipartisanPUEBLO ACT: Directs the Army to close the Pueblo Chemical Depot and transfer the remaining parcel of land back to the Pueblo community for economic redevelopment

“Our bill is the result of collaboration between the Pueblo community, our military, and advocates in Colorado and Washington who know the value of investing in southern Colorado,” said Hickenlooper. “This next step for the Pueblo Chemical Depot land will create new jobs and supercharge Pueblo’s economy – let’s finish the job!“

• Hickenlooper’s bipartisanJohn Lewis Civil Rights Fellowship Act: Establishes a new fellowship within the Fulbright Program to provide scholarships to Americans to study nonviolent civil rights movements abroad

“John Lewis fought for freedom and equality his entire life and inspired countless to follow in his footsteps,” said Senator Hickenlooper. “This fellowship will ensure his legacy echoes across future generations of civil rights leaders.”

Plan for a Long-Term Fighter Force Structure: Based on Hickenlooper’s bipartisan Fighter Force Preservation and Recapitalization Act, this language directs the U.S. Air Force to develop a plan for the long term recapitalization of both active and reserve components of the Air Force. The NDAA also includes a provision preventing the retirement of F-16C/D aircraft until such a report is provided to Congress.

The bill authorizes a number of significant provisions that will strengthen our national security and reinforce American global engagement, including:

Military Pay: A 5.2% pay raise for service members, the largest in over two decades

The legislation includes numerous policy priorities that are important to Colorado communities, including:

Addressing PFAS Contamination: Authorizes $1.1 billion for environmental remediation of PFAS and other toxins at DoD bases, including Peterson Space Force Base in El Paso County

The Fiscal Year 2024 NDAA also includes substantial investments that will strengthen the U.S. military presence in Colorado, including:

$12 million for Air National Guard Construction Projects at Buckley Air Force Base in Aurora. Hickenlooper directly requested and successfully secured this funding to upgrade the Corrosion Control Maintenance Facility for the 140th Wing

Before the bill went to the conference committee, Hickenlooper and U.S. Senator Michael Bennet received unanimous Senate support for their recommendation to add a measure to protect military construction funding for Space Command Headquarters in Colorado. Hickenlooper’s measure, cosponsored by Bennet, sought to counteract efforts by the Alabama Congressional delegation to undermine the Biden administration’s final decision to keep Space Command HQ in Colorado.

The legislation now goes to President Biden’s desk to become law.