Springfield’s defense priorities are set to become law after sweeping legislation shaped by U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill was approved by the Senate and now heads to the President’s desk. The annual defense bill includes new resources for Missouri’s military installations, including Fort Leonard Wood and Springfield’s 1107th Missouri Theater Aviation Sustainment Group, as well as childcare services for the National Guard, Department of Agriculture support for separating veterans, and resources for new F/A-18 Super Hornets for the U.S. Navy.

The legislation includes a provision from McCaskill to allow servicemembers in the Guard and Reserves experiencing trauma following a sexual assault to get the support they need if that assault took place during their weekend training. Previously, that coverage was only extended for Guard or Reserve servicemembers on active duty.

The annual National Defense Authorization Act, which sets the nation’s defense funding and priorities, was approved by the U.S. Senate 89-8.

“Perhaps the greatest priority of my job is making sure we’re safe abroad and strong at home, and no one does that better than the brave men and women working at Missouri’s defense installations,” said McCaskill, a senior member of the Armed Services Committee and the daughter of a World War II veteran. “Today we’re living those goals by boosting the capabilities of our bases, and ensuring we’re giving the tools for success to the men and women who power them—by launching job training for rural veterans, better caring for our reservists who’ve been victims of sexual assault and helping our Guardsmen better care for their families while they’re serving their country.”

The annual defense bill includes the following McCaskill priorities:

· $250 million for Fort Leonard Wood’s General Leonard Wood Army Hospital.

· $32 million for 1107th TASMG, Missouri Theater Aviation Sustainment Group in Springfield for a new maintenance hangar. Last year McCaskill visited and toured the unit’s facilities on as part of her Security and Defense Tour.

· Funding for the 139th Airlift Wing in St. Joseph, Mo’s for a C-130H full motion simulator, and construction for a consolidated communications facility. McCaskill had pushed Department of Defense and Air Force leadership for these necessary improvements to support the “Top Gun” of Military Airlift.

· Full funding for the Geospatial Intelligence Agency, which McCaskill advocated at the highest levels of government to remain in St. Louis.

· 24 F/A-18 Super Hornets for the U.S. Navy.

· Care and benefits coverage to veterans for the Guard and Reserves experiencing trauma following a sexual assault to get the support they need if that assault took place during their weekend training. Previously, that coverage was only extended for guard or reserve servicemembers on active duty.

· U.S. Department of Agriculture participation in the Transition Assistance Program, a Department of Defense program to ensure servicemembers are prepared to transition to civilian life. The Department of Agriculture program will assist veterans interested in careers in farming, ranching, or starting a rural business.

· Expanding childcare services for the National Guard and Reserves, an issue raised to McCaskill by a Missouri guardsman who was having problems finding childcare while attending her monthly drill. The provision directs the Department of Defense to explore ways of expanding childcare benefits available to active duty servicemembers, including on-post Child Development centers, to accommodate the needs of Missouri Guardsmen and Reservists while conducting regular weekend or annual training.

· The bipartisan PRIVATE Act, which McCaskill introduced with Republicans Dean Heller of Nevada and Joni Ernst of Iowa, as a bipartisan fix to military law to better guard against “revenge porn” following the Marines United scandal earlier this year, by making such conduct a standard offense across the services.

Visit mccaskill.senate.gov/defense to learn more about McCaskill’s fight to protect our national security.

Facebook Comments