Trump signs defense bill named for Sen. John McCain

Aug 13, 2018, 2:00 PM | Updated: 9:34 pm

(AP Photos)

President Donald Trump signed a $716 billion defense policy bill Monday named for Arizona Sen. John McCain, who has been a frequent critic of the commander in chief.

The measure included $184 million to keep the A-10s at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, and provide $52 million in funding for construction projects at two Air Force bases and one National Guard camp in Arizona.

The bill also authorizes billions of dollars for military construction, including family housing.

“I’m humbled that my colleagues in Congress chose to designate this bill in my name,” the 81-year-old Republican said in a statement released after the signing of John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act.

“Serving as chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee and working on behalf of America’s brave service members has been one of the greatest honors of my life.”

The president didn’t mention McCain’s name during his remarks at Fort Drum, New York. The bill will boost military pay by 2.6 percent, the biggest hike in nine years.

“I’m here … to pay tribute to the greatest soldiers in the history of the world — the United States Army,” said Trump, who also praised U.S. Rep. Martha McSally (R-Ariz), a former Air Force fighter pilot in attendance.

Besides setting policy and spending levels, the bill weakens a bid to clamp down on Chinese telecom company ZTE. It allows Trump to waive sanctions against countries that bought Russian weapons and now want to buy U.S. military equipment.

The compromise bill removes a provision reinstating penalties against ZTE and restricting the company’s ability to buy U.S. component parts. ZTE was almost forced out of business after being accused of selling sensitive information to nations hostile to the U.S., namely Iran and North Korea, in violation of trade laws.

The measure also includes provisions designed to improve how the Defense Department handles reports of sexual assaults among the tens of thousands of children and teens who live and go to school on the military bases where their parents serve. An AP investigation documented broad failures of justice when military kids report incidents.

Among the changes, the bill creates new legal protections for students at Department of Defense Education Activity schools and requires the school system and the Pentagon to develop new policies for responding to reports on bases more generally. Schools and the armed services also must start tracking incidents – AP identified nearly 700 over 10 years, but that was a certain undercount.

The measure also addresses child-on-child sexual assault at U.S. military bases worldwide, an issue an Associated Press investigation revealed this spring.

McCain, a Vietnam War veteran who flew jets for the Navy, has been undergoing treatment in Arizona for brain cancer that was diagnosed over a year ago. He has not been in Washington since December.

“I am particularly proud that the NDAA once again strengthens and enhances Arizona’s outsized role in securing and defending the nation.

“It is my great honor and privilege to represent the people of Arizona, especially the brave men and women who answer our nation’s call to serve,” he said in the statement.