U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-03) issued the following statement after passage of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017.

“First and foremost, it is the Constitutional responsibility of Congress to provide for the common defense,” Luetkemeyer said. “With passage of today’s legislation, I am pleased to say the House has fulfilled that duty. This annual bill provides funding for core defense requirements such as personnel, training, and maintenance that will ensure our service men and women have the necessary support to fulfill their missions. I am particularly pleased that this bill includes an additional 14 F/A-18 E/F Super Hornets, the same program line that supports the EA-18G Growler, which is important to our national security and Missouri. I, along with several of my Missouri colleagues, have been a staunch supporter in maintaining funding for this vital program, not only for our service members, but for the people in Missouri.”