Supporting our Troops
Straight Talk with Sam
After months of partisan bickering and political games, the House finally voted this week to pass the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), fully funding our military and giving our troops the biggest pay raise they've received in the last decade.
Providing for the common defense is one of the most important things we do in Congress. I serve on the House Armed Services Committee and for the first time that I can remember, a bill was put forward earlier this year which passed on a completely partisan basis. Thankfully, a strong, bipartisan bill was negotiated between the House and the Senate and it overwhelmingly passed the House this week.
This full funding of our military gives our warfighters the tools they need to fight our adversaries and keep America safe. It includes funding to modernize our nuclear arsenal, equip our military with the latest aircraft, and enhance our technological capabilities to combat enemies of freedom in the 21st century. It also establishes the United States Space Force, to maintain America's status as a world leader for generations to come.
These much needed investments in the future of our military will even be happening right here in Missouri. I was able to secure funding for additional C-130 aircraft upgrades for the 139th Airlift WIng based at Rosecrans Air National Guard Base, just outside of St. Joseph.
What's more, this NDAA also ends the unfair "widow's tax" which cost some families who lost a loved one in the military tens of thousands of dollars every year. It also raises troop pay by 3.1%, the biggest such increase in 10 years.
Our brave men and women in the Armed Forces deserve the best equipment, training and support we can provide them in order to defend our nation. Service in the various branches of the military is a calling and I'm grateful we have so many in North Missouri who feel led to serve.
To that end, I had the honor of nominating 9 brave young men and women to our Nation's military academies this week. They have chosen and sought to dedicate their lives to serving our country so that we might be free. This year's nominations are:
Sydney Boutz, Parkville – US Naval Academy (Park Hill South HS)
Jacob Brown, Weston – US Naval Academy (West Platte HS)
Murphy Corum, Kansas City – US Air Force Academy (Staley HS)
Kellen Dewey, Louisiana – US Merchant Marine Academy (Louisiana HS)
Charles Hill, Kansas City – US Military Academy (Kansas City Christian School)
Braden Presser, Liberty – US Naval Academy (Liberty North HS)
Gabriel Spencer, Platte City – US Naval Academy (St. Vincent de Paul Academy)
Benjamin Thimjon, Kansas City – US Military Academy (Staley HS)
Isaac Washburn, Chillicothe – US Air Force Academy (Chillicothe HS)
The service academy process is highly competitive and I applaud these individuals for putting themselves forward. Our Nation is grateful for those who choose to serve in defense of our freedoms and this great country. I was proud to nominate these young men and women who are the future of our military and I'm glad we were able to finally pass a strong defense bill to give our Armed Forces the tools they need to keep us safe.
Sincerely,
Sam Graves