Dear friend,
Last week I joined my House colleagues in voting for H.R. 2670, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024. The bill passed the House of Representatives by a bi-partisan majority of 219 to 210.
This is the 63rd consecutive year that the House of Representatives has passed bi-partisan legislation providing for the common defense and supporting our servicemembers and military families. I commend Speaker McCarthy, Chairman Rogers, and my colleagues from both sides of the aisle on this significant legislative achievement.
In addition to a 5.2 percent increase in service member basic pay, the largest raise in over 20 years, the NDAA includes a pathway back to the armed forces for servicemembers who refused to take the COVID vaccine. The legislation also requires the correction of records to restore benefits where appropriate and directs the Secretary of Defense to inform each discharged servicemember of the process for reinstatement.
With the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, an Inspector General will be appointed to audit all aid provided by the United States, and the Hyde Amendment remains in effect ensuring that federal funds are not used for elective abortions. Funds will also be prohibited from being used for the teaching of Critical Race Theory (CRT), or any committee dealing with CRT.
Our funding should be used to strengthen our military and this NDAA does that by cutting funds in weapon programs and have not met development milestones and focusing on procuring advanced radar systems to track and defend the United States from high-altitude surveillance balloons, aircraft and missiles and modernizing our ICBM nuclear deterrent capabilities.
“The Full List”
The House 2024 NDAA:
- Supports a 5.2 percent increase in servicemember basic pay, the largest pay raise in over 20 years
- Authorizes over $240 million to reduce servicemember out-of-pocket housing expenses and counteract the skyrocketing cost of rent
- Waives fees and copays on the TRICARE Dental Program for all members of the Selected Reserve
- Fully funds the modernization of our nuclear triad, restores funding for the nuclear sea launched cruise missile (SLCM-N), and prohibits any reduction in the number of intercontinental ballistic missiles
- Develops and procures advanced radar systems to track and defend the United States from high-altitude surveillance balloons, aircraft, and missiles
- Establishes an Inspector General for Ukraine tasked with auditing all aid provided from the US
- Cuts over $5.8 billion in weapons programs that have not met development milestones, or are experiencing excessive cost growth
- Affirms the long-standing precedent of the Hyde amendment by restricting the use of federal funds to facilitate elective abortions
- Provides a pathway back to the armed forces for servicemembers who refused to take the COVID vaccine, requires the correction of records to restore benefits where appropriate, and directs the Secretary of Defense to inform each discharged servicemember of the process for reinstatement
- Prohibits funds going towards the teaching of Critical Race Theory (CRT) and prohibits funds towards any advisory committee dealing with CRT
- Prohibits funds for advisory committees dealing with race, gender identity, sexual orientation, or social justice
- Prohibits drag shows, drag queen story hours, gender ambassadors and similar activities on Department of Defense (DOD) installations and facilities
- Repeals the position of the DOD Chief Diversity officer and requires the Secretary to validate all positions in the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion bureaucracy
The House 2024 NDAA also includes the following legislative provisions led by Rep. Bacon:
- Directs the Secretary of the Air Force to provide a future force design concept for Air and Space Forces projected through the year 2050
- Directs the Secretary of the Air Force to provide a comprehensive total force recapitalization plan for Air Force fighter squadrons and prohibits further fighter squadron reductions until this plan is provided
- Authorizes expedited military construction contracts for the first two production lots for the Air Force’s new Sentinel ICBM missile replacement program
- Directs the Pentagon to assess and report on air and missile defense capabilities for US bases in the Indo-Pacific and European theaters of operation
- Directs a prohibition on Pentagon procurement of printers sourced from the Peoples Republic of China and affiliated entities
- Directs implementation of a program to improve calculation accuracy for the Basic Allowance for Housing
- Directs the Pentagon to implement air and missile defense enhancements to counter Iranian threats to Kurdish Peshmerga and Iraqi Security Forces
- Authorizes $210 million and directs an integrated strategy to improve deterrence and defensive capabilities in the Baltic region
- Authorizes use of funds to provide inflation relief to qualifying defense contracts
- Authorizes $2 million for university-based advanced research on strategic deterrence
- Authorizes an increase of $10 million for USSTRATCOM’s nuclear command, control, and communications (NC3) modernization efforts
- Authorizes $50 million for enhancements to the EC-37B Compass Call electronic attack aircraft
- Authorizes changes to defense acquisition guidelines to permit consideration of past performance for affiliated small businesses including native-owned entities
- Authorizes former members of the U.S. Air Force who served in the space mission area to be known as “Legacy Guardians”
A copy of the House bill’s text can be found here.
