Legislation Includes Sherrill-Led Provisions, Was Signed Into Law By President Biden
Washington, DC–– Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) released the following statement after President Biden signed into law the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022:
"I am incredibly proud that this year's NDAA has finally been signed into law. With the threats our country faces around the world, this bipartisan bill comes at a critical time.
"This year's NDAA contains many provisions I fought hard for, including robust investments in one of NJ-11's largest employers, Picatinny Arsenal; better protections for veterans exposed to toxic burn pits; improvements to our cyber capabilities; and the removal of sexual assault cases from the chain of command.
"The landmark investments we've made in the Army's research and development enterprise, with Picatinny Arsenal as a leader, will ensure that our military continues to be the best, most modern fighting force in the world. And this year's bill invests in our servicemembers, making long-overdue reforms to the military justice system, boosts servicemember pay, and bolsters the TRICARE health care system."
The NDAA, which passed the House of Representatives with broad, bipartisan support on December 7th, includes several Sherrill-authored provisions:
The Burn Pit PROMISE Act: Too many veterans are facing long-term health issues from toxic exposure to burn pits. This bill will work to strengthen the Department of Defense's ILER program, which works to address toxic exposure at the source.
Master Plan for Munitions: Picatinny Arsenal is the Department's Joint Program Executive Office for Armaments and Ammunition. This provision will create a Master Plan for munitions manufacturing modernization, providing Picatinny with the resources it needs to lead our munitions enterprise into the future.
Supply Chain Security Plan: The COVID-19 pandemic showed that too many critical supplies are sourced from foreign adversaries. Rep. Sherrill, as a member of HASC's Critical Supply Chain Task Force, authored a provision that will require the Department of Defense to create a plan to reduce our reliance on services or products from hostile foreign countries.
The Vet RENT Act: Many young veterans spend their time in the military living in government housing. However, when they transition, that means they often don't have robust rental histories to help them get leases. This bipartisan bill will direct the Department of Defense to provide housing histories for servicemembers when they leave on-base housing.
Clarity for Other Transaction Authorities: Some of our most innovative and non-traditional defense companies, many located in New Jersey, conduct business with the DOD through Other Transaction Authorities (OTA). Unfortunately, the process can be opaque, often resulting in less business for these smaller companies. This provision will clarify the OTA process and boost small companies' ability to do business with the DOD.
Support for Transitioning Servicemembers: When a servicemember leaves the military, they are provided with access to the Transition Assistance Program, which gives training on the shift to civilian life. Many servicemembers report that they could use a lot more help to make their transition successful. This provision will study the feasibility of creating a grant program to expand transition services available to servicemembers.
The NDAA also includes critical investments in the work at Picatinny Arsenal, the Army's leading research institution for armaments and ammunition. The Arsenal is on the cutting edge of the DOD's research and development enterprise, and this year's bill supports them in that mission with:
$20 million in additional funding for Long Range Precision Fires, the Army's top modernization priority and a significant part of Picatinny's mission.
$2.46 billion for ammunition procurement. As the Joint Program Executive Office for Armaments and Ammunition, Picatinny Arsenal oversees ammunition procurement.
Additional funding for Extended Range Cannon Artillery (ERCA) Munitions Development. ERCA is a flagship program for Picatinny Arsenal.
Additional funding for Lethality Technology. As the Army's Center of Excellence for Lethality, this funding is key for several Picatinny programs.
Full funding for Ground Advanced Technology. This funding will support Picatinny's efforts to develop innovative new guided munitions.
After many years of widespread and bipartisan effort, this year's NDAA also includes historic reforms to the military justice system and takes important steps to address the military's problems with sexual assault and sexual harassment.
Removes commanders from decisions related to the prosecution of several crimes, including rape and sexual assault.
Creates an Office of the Special Trial Counsel, structured so that counsels are independent and free to conduct rigorous legal oversight.
Criminalizes sexual harassment under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, and requires that claims of sexual harassment be investigated outside the chain of command.
Requires the military services to notify survivors of sexual assault about the outcomes of any administrative action taken against their perpetrator.
Allows the DoD Safe Helpline to intake restricted and unrestricted reports for eligible sexual assault victims.
The NDAA for Fiscal Year 2022 also includes many other important investments and reforms that will continue to make our country safer and provide for our servicemembers and their families, and addresses a wide range of issues currently impacting the DOD, including:
Increase for servicemember salary through an increase in military basic pay by 2.7%
Basic needs allowance for low-income servicemembers:
Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to pay a basic needs allowance to low-income servicemembers.
Parental leave for servicemembers:
Increases parental leave for caregivers including foster parents and secondary caregivers.
Childcare:
Expands the in-home childcare pilot program providing financial assistance for in-home childcare.
Improvements to capabilities in cyberspace and efforts to addresses emerging threats:
Initiates the widest empowerment and expansion of CISA through legislation since the SolarWinds incident.
Authorizes significant additional cybersecurity investments in people, programs, and technologies.
Authorizes significant new investments in artificial intelligence.
Requires the Secretary of Defense to review the potential applications of artificial intelligence and digital technology to DoD platforms, process and operations and establish objectives and metrics for the incorporation of those technologies into such systems.
Sets up a pilot program to facilitate the agile acquisition of technologies for warfighters.
Directs the Director of the Office of Personnel Management to establish or update one or more occupational series for digital career fields.
Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to expand the efforts of the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to engage and collaborate with private-sector industry and communities in regions.
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