Neal Statement on House Passage of NDAA

Today, Congressman Richard E. Neal released the following statement after joining a bipartisan group of colleagues earlier this evening in passing H.R. 7900 – National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023.

“The National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2023 delivers on a number of initiatives that will support our men and women in uniform, as well as our nation’s interests abroad,” said Congressman Neal. “In addition to a 4.6% pay raise for service members and civilian personnel, the bill enacts a number of provisions that will be of great benefit to the First Congressional District. I was proud to cosponsor an amendment establishing the Southern New England Regional Commission to help bring jobs to communities in western and central Massachusetts, as well as an amendment to eliminate the Asset and Infrastructure Review Commission of the Department of Veterans Affairs. The AIR Commission was responsible for the recommendation that could have led to the closure of the VA Medical Center in Leeds. This is a major victory for central and western Massachusetts, and for veterans across the nation who deserve accessible, high-quality care.

“FY23 NDAA also includes provisions that build upon ongoing efforts to address PFAS contamination around military installations and formerly used defense sites, the effects of which have been fully felt by residents in Westfield and throughout Berkshire County,” Congressman Neal continued. “In addition, this legislation authorizes funding for projects that will support many businesses across the First Congressional District, such as General Dynamics in Pittsfield and Warren Pumps in Warren. This bill also promotes continued operations at Westover Air Reserve Base and Barnes Air National Guard, two strong community partners that generate millions of dollars in economic development.”

The FY23 NDAA:

• Authorizes a 4.6% pay raise for service members and civilian personnel, and a $15 minimum wage for workers on federal service and construction contracts;
• Increases and improves access to behavioral health care across the Military Health System;
• Allocates more than $111 million for research activities at historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs);
• Establishes a Commission on Civilian Harm and the DoD Center for Excellence in Civilian Harm Mitigation; and
• Extends and expands the eligibility for the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) Program.

“This year’s defense funding bill delivers for the communities of western and central Massachusetts, while ensuring the safety of our servicemembers and promoting our nation’s interests around the world,” continued Congressman Neal. “This includes $7 billion in funding for the Pacific Deterrence Initiative, as well as $1 billion for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. The provisions within this bill that counter Russian aggression are in lockstep with the resounding response from the international community, led by President Biden, in response to Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. I was proud to support this legislation and will continue to monitor its provisions as it advances through the legislative process.”

A summary of the provisions in the FY23 NDAA is available here.

Original source can be found here