WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) made this statement after the Senate passed the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) by a vote of 77-20.  Senator Graham noted that the legislation includes several important priorities for South Carolina.

“The Senate’s passage of the annual defense authorization bill ensures a pay raise for our troops and the authorization of several important projects for South Carolina,” said Graham.

Highlights of Provisions Included in the FY26 NDAA:

Wins for South Carolina.

• Authorizes millions for South Carolina military construction projects, including:
• $51 million for construction at Fort Jackson in Columbia.
• $65.4 million for the Nuclear Power Training Facility Simulation Expansion project at Joint Base Charleston.
• $33 million for the construction of a Medical Facility Addition for the Air Force Reserve based in Joint Base Charleston.
• Authorizes billions for the Savannah River Site (SRS) to help advance critical programs like Plutonium Pit Production and Environmental Cleanup and codifies the two-site strategy to produce no fewer than 50 war reserve plutonium pits annually at SRS.

Supports our Men and Women in Uniform.

• Authorizes a 3.8 percent pay raise for military members.

Supports the Modernization of the U.S. Military.

• Authorizes billions for key priorities including shipbuilding, Golden Dome, and munitions production.
• Improves the budget and acquisition process of the Pentagon to help advance key priorities faster and in a fiscally responsible manner.

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