Wicker: Praises Mississippi’s defense contributions
By U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.)
America Thanks God for Mississippi
For the past 64 years, Congress has passed a national defense bill. This month, that run stretched to 65. Members of the House of Representatives and the Senate overwhelmingly voted to send this year’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to the president, who signed it into law. I was especially gratified to support this legislation, which was the first I helped draft as Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
The NDAA authorizes service member salaries and equips them with the tools they need for their mission. That equipment—aircraft, ships, weapons systems, cyber technology, and more—is built by Americans in every state. But I am especially gratified by the ways this year’s NDAA recognizes Mississippi’s outstanding contributions to national defense.
In particular, this NDAA reflects Mississippi’s status as a “multi-domain” state. That term is used by military experts to indicate leadership in an array of American military capabilities, including air, sea, land, space, and cyberspace. It certainly sums up the state of Mississippi’s numerous national defense sites. Key military installations, energetic technology startups, established shipbuilding enterprises, and cutting-edge research facilities have all found a home in the Magnolia State.
NDAA Upgrades Mississippi Defense Installations
This year’s NDAA authorizes funding for military construction projects at several important Mississippi bases. Columbus Air Force Base will receive funds for a water tank storage system, which protects against fire and supports various base operations. The bill will help both Camp Shelby and the Meridian Readiness Center improve facilities used by Army aviation crews. Key Field Air National Guard Base will also see upgrades. This NDAA will help the base move forward on two facilities, including a new hangar that meets aircraft maintenance needs. Improvements like these help Mississippi remain a leader in national defense for years to come. They also attract additional investment from private firms, which this NDAA supports.
NDAA Supports Mississippi Cyber and Tech Expertise
Many Americans look to coastal cities for technology leadership, but they should start looking at the Magnolia State as well. This year’s defense bill certainly does. In it, Congress taps into the talents of Mississippians using artificial intelligence to help American service members combat drone attacks. That effort addresses an urgent problem in modern warfare. The NDAA also supports others in the state who are using technology to identify propaganda campaigns conducted by America’s enemies.
NDAA Recognizes Mississippi Naval and Air Prowess
This defense legislation backs Mississippi’s world-famous shipbuilders. It invests in the Gulfport and Pascagoula shipyards where craftsmen build submarine components, amphibious warfare tools, barges, and other vessels. It helps Mississippians develop cutting-edge naval technologies, including unmanned nautical platforms and sensing tools for shallow-water navigation. In other provisions, the bill supports firms building military helicopters, long-range projectiles, and lightweight drones used for special operations. These actions will help maintain American leadership of the seas and skies.
America Thanks God for Mississippi
Congress’ annual defense bill is vast, authorizing programs for the Pentagon, as well as the State Department, the intelligence communities, the Coast Guard, and more. But amid those diverse provisions, one fact is clear: Mississippi is a vital link in the chain of American national defense. “Multi-domain” may be a technical military term, but it reflects a practical reality in our state. We help equip the men and women who defend us on all fronts—on land, on the seas, in the skies, in space, and in cyberspace. I am grateful to play my part in supporting that good work.
This item is the weekly Wicker Report of U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), who is solely responsible for its content.
