WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Peter Meijer (R-MI) last night voted in favor of H.R. 4350, the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which passed the House by a vote of 316-113. The bill contains several Meijer amendments, including ones that support the evacuation of our Afghan allies, improve water quality at Department of Defense (DOD) facilities, establish a Global War on Terrorism Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., and more.
“This year’s NDAA provides our military with the resources necessary to defend our great nation, holds President Biden accountable for his disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, and authorizes a much-deserved pay increase for our servicemembers,” said Rep. Meijer. “While the bill is not perfect, my Republicans colleagues and I are committed to improving it through the conference process. I was glad to support the legislation and proud to see several of my amendments included.”
The Fiscal Year 2022 NDAA:
- Reverses President Biden’s reckless cuts to our national security by boosting the defense topline by nearly $25 billion, ensuring growth of 5% from Fiscal Year 2021.
- Authorizes a 2.7% pay increase for servicemembers and extends military recruitment and retention bonuses and special pay authorities.
- Preserves servicemembers’ free speech rights by protecting them from being punished for political statements on social media accounts.
- Prohibits a dishonorable discharge for servicemembers who refuse a COVID-19 vaccination and requires uniform procedures for vaccine exemptions.
- Halts President Biden’s dangerous cuts to shipbuilding by providing funding for 13 new battle force ships and prohibiting the decommissioning of 3 cruisers.
- Reverses President Biden’s dangerous cuts to the procurement of new aircraft, combat vehicles, autonomous systems, missiles, and ammunition.
- Focuses investment in new and emerging weapon systems capable of penetrating denied operating environments such as China.
- Authorizes $250 million to conduct counterterrorism operations in Afghanistan and prohibits DoD from providing any financial support to the Taliban.
- Requires the DoD to immediately submit a plan to Congress on how it will support the evacuation of American citizens from Afghanistan, maintain air superiority, conduct intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions, and carry out counterterrorism operations.
- Requires a series of immediate reports to Congress on the following:
- Number of Americans left behind in Afghanistan
- Personally identifiable information and biometrics of Americans now in the hands of the Taliban
- Itemized lists of aircraft, combat vehicles, and other U.S. military equipment left behind
- Threats posed by Al Qaeda and other terrorists operating in Afghanistan
- Strategic impacts of abandoning Bagram Air Base
- Taliban relationship with foreign terrorist organizations
- Security impacts on the Taliban release of terrorist prisoners
- Financial assets and other resources available to the Taliban
- Strengthens Homeland Security by directing additional National Guard resources to the border and requiring an assessment of the impact on military readiness of DoD transporting illegal immigrants.
- Prohibits the transfer of terrorists housed at Guantanamo Bay to any country that is a state sponsor of terrorism.
- Prohibits the use of DoD funds to conduct research, including biomedical, infectious disease, and genomic research in China or with any entity controlled by the Chinese Communist Party.
- Requires DoD and DNI to assess the involvement of the Chinese Communist Party in the origins of COVID-19.
- Prohibits DoD from acquiring any goods produced with Uyghur forced labor.
- Requires DoD to provide annual updates to Congress on China’s military advancements and phases out the use of Chinese printed circuit boards in systems and equipment acquired by DoD.
- Requires biennial reporting on Russian influence operations and campaigns targeting U.S. military alliances and partnerships and continues prohibitions on military cooperation with Russia and any activities that recognize Russian sovereignty over Crimea.
- Establish a Digital Reserve Corps, a program that focuses on attracting, recruiting, and training a corps of digital talent to serve the federal government
- Create a transition assistance program that supports servicemembers getting back into the workforce
- Authorize the development of a Global War on Terrorism memorial on the National Mall
- Require the DoD to publicly disclose lead and copper water testing results from DoD and National Guard facilities and defense sites
- Support the evacuation of our Afghan allies who worked with the U.S. government through a cooperative agreement, grant, or nongovernmental organization (NGO)
