WASHINGTON, D.C. (WAVY) — Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) told reporters Friday that several provisions in the current Senate version of the National Defense Appropriations Act would benefit military members and their families in Hampton Roads. The Armed Services Committee passed the spending package Friday.

The plan includes a pay raise for everyone associated with Department of Defense.

“This is a very good [pay raise] at a time when our service members and their families really need it,” Kaine said. “A 4.5% pay raise for military personnel, and a 2% pay raise for DoD civilian employees.”

The Senate proposal adds 1% more for junior enlisted E-1 thru E-3 bringing them to a 5.5% increase.

The Newport News Shipyard builds the Virginia Class submarines, and the bill adds $900 million so that an additional submarine can be built. It also has $175 million for additional work on aircraft carriers. Kaine said the overall goal for the number of subs and surface ships remains 355, but the actual current number is closer to 300.

“The pace of production has been really slowed down by workforce issues and not having an adequate ship and sub workforce,” Kaine said. “Provisions in this bill bring more suppliers into the supply chain and get them ready to go and do top quality work quickly.”

Kaine said rather than focus on the 355 target, he’d like to see emphasis on more effective surface and submarine vessels.

The Senate proposal also provides for help on two key local bases when it comes to families’ quality of life.

“Child care development centers — both in the Hampton Roads area, one at Little Creek and one at Oceana, these are really important investments that we hear about all the time,” Kaine said.

In a couple months, a Senate/House conference committee will work out the final defense budget that will be presented to President Joe Biden later this year.