The bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act of 2021 includes a 2.7% pay raise for service members, provides $250 million for the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, and addresses strategic challenges from China
Today, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) voted to pass the bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act of 2021 which makes key investments to improve the lives of service members and military families and strengthens our national security.
Among the many national security provisions in the legislation, the bipartisan NDAA includes a 2.7% raise for our service members, provides vital funding for the Drydock #1 at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, reforms the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) to combat sexual assault in the military, puts in place strong safeguards to confront China and mitigate its strategic challenges, and addresses PFAS contamination. The legislation also secures a historic funding increase for research and development and helps veterans in the transition to civilian life through new job training programs.
"The bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act will provide for a strong national defense and keep our nation safe," said Congressman Pappas. "This year's authorization supports the men and women who serve our country by giving them a well-deserved pay raise, reforms the handling of sexual assault in the military, provides additional job training to veterans transitioning to civilian life, and cleans up PFAS on bases and strengthens DOD's PFAS standards. This legislation also takes much-needed steps to confront China and reduce our dependence on Chinese products and supply chains. Finally, I'm pleased that the authorization also includes substantial funding for ongoing projects at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. These investments will make New Hampshire and our nation safer and stronger, and I urge the Senate to quickly take up and pass this authorization."
The legislation contains other key New Hampshire properties including:
- Combating PFAS contamination by requiring DOD to follow state standards for clean-up of PFAS contamination when they are more strict than federal regulations, establishing a 2-year deadline for completion of PFAS testing at DOD and National Guard installations, and requiring DOD to report on the results of drinking and groundwater testing and the status of clean up efforts and PFAS sites across the country.
- Secure $250 million in funding for the Multi-Mission Drydock #1 extension at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.
- Secure $225 million in funding for the Shipyard Investment Optimization Program (SIOP).
- Require the Secretary of the Navy to provide updates and reports on the implementation and funding of the Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Plan (SIOP) and a Comptroller General assessment of SIOP.
- Prohibit the use of open-air burn pits during overseas contingency operations unless an exemption is issued by the Secretary of Defense for a particular location.
- Support veterans in the transition to civilian life through new job training programs and transition assistance.
- Recognize the men and women of the Armed Services for securing Hamid Karzai International Airport and supporting the largest noncombatant evacuation operation in United States history.
- Secure $300 million in funding for Israeli Cooperative Programs.
- Strengthen our defense supply chains by tightening restrictions on the acquisition of certain technology that may be susceptible to interference by the Chinese government and supporting the development of reliable and effective technology in the United States.
- Require the Secretary of Defense to provide in-depth reports and briefings to Congress to ensure transparency and ongoing oversight of the security situation in Afghanistan.
- Require the military to provide Reserve and National Guard service members incentives and special duty pays at the same rate as their active-duty counterparts.
- The United States-Greece Defense and Interparliamentary Partnership Act of 2021, which deepens the United States' bilateral defense relationship with Greece and strengthens the United States presence in the Eastern Mediterranean to counter Chinese, Russian, and Turkish malign influence in the region.
Original source can be found here.
