Washington, DC – Congressman Donald Norcross (NJ-01) today joined members of both parties to advance a $578.6 billion defense budget that will strengthen our national defense, provide vital resources to the brave men and women serving in our military, and support our veterans. Norcross worked with fellow South Jersey Congressmen and House Armed Services Committee members Frank LoBiondo and Tom MacArthur to win support for critical amendments to the bill that advance the mission of our region’s strategic military installations and protect local jobs.

“In many ways, America’s national defense hinges on our mission right here at South Jersey’s joint base,” said Congressman Norcross. “Passage of today’s bipartisan budget reflects the crucial role the joint base has in protecting our freedom, in particular its highly efficient, battle-tested KC-10 program.” 

Highlights of H.R. 2685, the FY16 Defense Budget:
-    Includes $490.2 billion for national defense and $88.4 billion for Overseas Contingency Operations.
-    Prohibits the military from retiring its fleet of KC-10s. Vital to the mission at the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst and to our national defense, Congressmen Norcross and MacArthur introduced and passed key language that will keep America’s most reliable and proven refueling tanker in operation. 
-    Prohibits the Department of Defense from conducting an additional round of BRAC, protecting critical joint base operations and thousands of local jobs from the threat closure. 
-    Includes $50M for F-16 radar upgrades, supporting critical Air Force missions and operations by Air Force Reserves and Air Force National Guard units like Atlantic City’s 177th Fighter Wing. 
-    Includes provisions championed by Congressman Norcross to protect servicemembers from predatory lending practices and preserves certain benefits for servicemembers on travel or temporary assignment. 

As a Member of the House Armed Services Committee, Congressman Norcross remains committed to ensuring that our veterans and the men and women in our armed forces receive the resources they need.