Strengthening our national security — and Arizona’s role in it — is the focus of Senator Kelly’s work on the Armed Services Committee. He continues the legacy of Arizona Senators, like John McCain and Barry Goldwater, advocating for the state’s defense community and seven military bases on the committee. Senator Kelly also serves as Chair of the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities, where he leads efforts to maintain our competitive edge over adversaries like China and Russia.
He played a key role in passing the most recent annual defense bill, known as the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Senator Kelly successfully protected A-10s at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, authorized key infrastructure upgrades at Luke Air Force Base, Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, and other Arizona installations, and secured the passage of his Brandon Act to address military suicides.
In addition to supporting current servicemembers, Senator Kelly has been a strong advocate for Arizona’s veterans. He has helped lead a bipartisan push to improve accountability and transparency at the VA. Senator Kelly’s Veterans and Defense Advisory Groups regularly provide him with feedback and updates on matters related to the state’s defense and veterans communities.