Congressman Mike Rogers (R-AL03) said he was glad to see the FY22 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) signed into law.
Rogers is the Lead Republican of the House Armed Services Committee, the House committee tasked with preparing the NDAA.
“This piece of legislation was the culmination of months of bipartisan work to bolster our national security and support our troops,” Rogers said in a statement. “This year’s NDAA provides our military with a crucial funding increase to ensure that our warfighters have the tools they need to combat the threats our nation faces.”
“Our work is not finished,” Rogers added. “As we approach the new year, our nation faces unprecedented aggression and threats from near-peer adversaries, namely China and Russia. Combating these threats will continue to be our number one priority as we look ahead to FY23.”
The FY22 NDAA includes a Republican amendment boosting the defense topline by $25 billion, ensuring growth of 5% over FY21. According to Rogers, the bill –
Reverses President Biden’s reckless cuts to our national security, restoring funding for shipbuilding, procurement, and missile defense,
Funds over $15 billion in Service Chief and Combatant Commander priorities left unfunded by the Biden budget,
Authorizes a 2.7% pay increase for service members,
Extends military recruitment and retention bonuses and special pay authorities,
Provides nearly $1.5 billion to improve servicemember family housing,
Prevents Biden’s cuts to military health programs,
Increases funding for vaccine research,
Provides $35 million for research and treatment of Havana syndrome,
Increases parental leave, expands the in-home childcare pilot program and improves support available to military families with special needs children,
Requires the DoD to conduct a thorough and independent review of suicide prevention and response programs at various military installations,
Halts Biden’s dangerous cuts to shipbuilding by providing funding for 13 new battle force ships and prohibiting the decommissioning of 2 cruisers,
Puts the Navy back on track to building a 355 ship Navy,
Includes over $800 million to support expansion and modernization of the shipyard and submarine industrial base,
Supports full funding of the nuclear modernization associated with Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine and the B-21 Raider bomber programs,
Authorizes over $1.1 billion in new aircraft, equipment, and weapon systems for the National Guard and Reserve,
Requires DoD to report to Congress on the costs and time wasted on training on topics like diversity, inclusion, and equity,
Includes unprecedented levels of investment in emerging technologies, including AI, quantum computing, hypersonic, and autonomous systems,
Includes a new $100 million fund and a pilot program to expedite the deployment of innovative technologies to the warfighter,
Prohibits any reduction in the number of intercontinental ballistic missiles or retiring or reconverting our low-yield nuclear warheads,
Fully funds modernization of our nuclear triad, including Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent,
Fully funds the two-site solution for plutonium pit production,
Supports the Next Generation Interceptor to protect the U.S. homeland from the North Korean intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) threat,
Ends investment in failing programs and supports the divestment of legacy systems with little strategic value,
Reins in sustainment costs on the Department of Defense's largest acquisition program through new sustainment affordability metrics and requirements,
Establishes a program to prevent fraud and abuse in the Military Health System.
“Today, I have signed into law S. 1605, the “National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022” (the “Act”),” President Joe Biden said in a statement. “The Act authorizes fiscal year appropriations principally for the Department of Defense, for Department of Energy national security programs, and for the Department of State. The Act provides vital benefits and enhances access to justice for military personnel and their families, and includes critical authorities to support our country’s national defense."
Biden said he would still like to use funds to transfer Guantánamo Bay detainees to foreign countries or into the U.S.
“In some circumstances, these provisions could make it difficult to comply with the final judgment of a court that has directed the release of a detainee on a writ of habeas corpus,” said Biden. “In addition, the limitations in section 1032 of the Act constrain the flexibility of the executive branch with respect to its engagement in delicate negotiations with foreign countries over the potential transfer of detainees and thus may in some cases make it difficult to effectuate the transfer of detainees in a manner that does not threaten national security.”
Biden asked Congress to get rid of certain restrictions on the release of Guantánamo Bay detainees.
The NDAA passed both Houses of Congress with broad bipartisan support.
Mike Rogers is in his tenth term representing Alabama’s Third Congressional District.
To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandon.moseley@1819News.com.
