Lauds Increased Funding for Quality of Life, Including Special Pays and Funding for Housing and Healthcare
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today visited Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls, Montana, where he discussed the historic wins for America’s defense and national security in the Big Beautiful Bill. Daines also received briefings and updates about operations at the base.
“Montana’s servicemembers play a vital role in our national security and deserve the best, so I am pleased to visit Malmstrom to discuss critical provisions of the Big Beautiful Bill that will help them better fulfill their mission and take care of their families. President Trump proved with the passage of the Big Beautiful Bill that he is committed to restoring our military dominance and I was glad to share relevant updates with the team at Malmstrom. I’ll continue to advocate for Malmstrom’s military priorities and reinforce America’s ‘peace through strength’ strategy to deter our adversaries,” said Daines.
Defense wins in the Big Beautiful Bill include:
- $9 billion in funding for servicemember quality of life, including allowances, special pays, improvements to housing, healthcare, childcare, housing, and education
- $25 billion in funding for the Golden Dome missile defense system
- $2 billion for ICBM systems
- $21 billion to restock America’s arsenal of munitions and increase domestic production of critical minerals
- $34 billion for expanding our naval fleet
- $29 billion for shipbuilding and the Maritime Industrial Base. Expands the size and enhances the capability of our naval fleet. Invests in autonomous surface and subsurface technology. Builds capacity and improves infrastructure in the maritime industrial base.
- $15 billion for nuclear deterrence. Accelerates modernization of the triad. Improves readiness of our current nuclear deterrent. Invests in infrastructure needed to restore America’s ability to manufacture nuclear weapons.
- $350 million to replace antiquated business systems and inject automation and AI at the DOD. This funding would support DOGE so that the DOD can finish its first audit by end of 2028.
- $16 billion to improve readiness, including through modernization of depots, additional spare parts for aircraft, and expanded naval maintenance.
- $16 billion to expedite innovation to the warfighter. This legislation increases scale production of innovative low-cost and next-generation weapons like drones, counter-drone tech, low-cost munitions, and artificial intelligence.
Background:
Malmstrom Air Force Base is one of three U.S. Air Force bases that maintains and operates the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile, and therefore is mission critical to America’s nuclear deterrence. Daines has supported the base’s operations, previously introducing a bill to strengthen Malmstrom’s Sentinel program by providing multiyear procurement authority for LGM-35A Sentinel ICBMs.
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Contact: Matt Lloyd, Gabby Wiggins