Today, Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03) voted on a bipartisan basis to approve the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which included her amendments to include the Transition for Success Act and the Flexibility in Addressing Rural Homelessness Act.
Rep. Axne’s Transition for Success Act, which will provide in-demand skills training and employment assistance to members of the National Guard who are within 180 days of transitioning into civilian life, was included in the legislation.
“More than 8,000 Members of the Iowa National Guard serve our country every day, and they deserve the same opportunities as others who serve in the military have to succeed,” said Rep. Axne. “I am delighted to see my legislation that will connect the men and women who have served our country and are transitioning back to civilian life to access the skills training programs they need is moving forward.”
Currently, the U.S. Department of Defense offers access to the SkillBridge program to active duty servicemembers transitioning out of their military service. SkillBridge connects departing servicemembers to in-demand skills training and prospective employers who are ready to hire. The Transition for Success Act would expand access to the SkillBridge program by allowing all National Guard members to participate in the program upon departing military service.
Rep. Axne’s Flexibility in Addressing Rural Homelessness Act, which will give rural communities more flexibility in how they use homelessness funding to ensure quality lodging is available for Iowans who have been displaced from their homes, was also included in the legislation.
“I am pleased to have joined my colleagues in passing my legislation that will give folks who live in rural areas more options when it comes to finding a new place to live on short notice,” said Rep. Axne. “Homelessness in rural areas looks different than it does in urban communities because there’s oftentimes few or no places to seek shelter. My legislation will give rural communities more flexibility in how homelessness funding can be used to ensure the money is being used in ways that make the most sense for each individual community.”
The bill would give more flexibility to rural communities in how they use homelessness funding from the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. Specifically, the bill would add as eligible uses:
- Payment of short-term emergency lodging, including in motels or hotels.
- Repairs to existing housing, including insulation, windows and doors, and other repairs that are necessary for it to be habitable.
- Capacity building, including payment of staff training and retention.
The FY23 NDAA ensures the U.S. continues to have the ability to recruit and retain the diverse and talented military and civilian workforce, includes provisions to strengthen the Department of Defense civilian workforce with key reforms, and supports a 4.6% pay raise for service members and civilians. It also supports inflation bonuses increasing pay by an additional 2.4% for service members and civilians earning less than $45,000 per year; and codifies a $15 minimum wage for workers on federal service and construction contracts. Rep. Axne opposed amendments to impose severe cuts to defense and national security investment.
Original source can be found here.
