Congressman Doug Lamborn (CO-05) voted with a bipartisan majority on the House Armed Services Committee to approve the National Defense Authorization Act of 2012. The legislation authorizes $690 billion for the Department of Defense and the national security activities within the Department of Energy for the next fiscal year. The legislation authorizes $553 billion for the Department of Defense’s base budget, $119 billion for overseas contingency operations, and $18 billion for the Department of Energy’s atomic energy defense programs.

Specific to Colorado, the legislation also authorizes 8 construction projects, totaling $295 million, on Fort Carson and the United States Air Force Academy.

Authorized Construction Project                                                        Authorized Amount

Army Fort Carson Aircraft Loading Area                                                       $34 million

Army Fort Carson Control Tower                                                              $14.2 million

Army Fort Carson Brigade Headquarters                                                     $14.4 million

Army Fort Carson Aircraft Maintenance Hangar                                            $63 million

Army Fort Carson Barracks                                                                        $67 million

Army Fort Carson Barracks                                                                        $46 million

Army National Guard Fort Carson Barracks Complex                                     $43 million

Air Force Large Vehicle Inspection Facility                                                 $13.4 million

"This bill tells our nation that Congress is serious about supporting our troops in their critical missions abroad. We have made sure they have everything they need to complete those missions and return home.

"It tells our warfighters and their families that they are the most critical asset we have in defending freedom and we value their service. We are mindful of the sacrifices they and their families make to protect our nation and we want to make sure the nation takes care of them.

“I am particularly pleased this bill includes my amendment to protect the United States from unilateral cuts in its nuclear stockpile by this or a future President without consultation with Congress. The amendment also provides incentives for this and future administrations to continue with the nuclear stockpile modernization program promised as part of the New START Treaty. The amendment ensures that our nation's nuclear deterrent will stay strong in the future.”– Doug Lamborn (CO-05)

The legislation also includes amendments submitted by Congressman Lamborn for the following:

• Additional support for combating terrorism,
• Funding for the Army’s advanced manufacturing, repair and sustainment technologies,
• Additional $20 million to upgrade our defense satellite systems so that our war fighters can have better access to critical intelligence,
• A report for a comprehensive review of the program that coordinates command and control of our national and defense satellite systems, which are outdated and in need of critical upgrade, and
• A statement that Congress is concerned about gaps in our joint ballistic missile defense training and wants those gaps identified and fixed.

# # #