Washington, D.C. (December 14, 2023) | Today, Rep. Barry Loudermilk (GA-11) issued the following statement after voting for the Conference Report to accompany H.R. 2670, the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The NDAA sets Department of Defense (DoD) policies and authorizes funding levels for U.S. defense programs. The final defense authorization bill passed the House by a vote of 310-118.
“As a United States Air Force veteran who served in communications and intelligence, I understand the critical need to restore strength in our military and ensure it is well-equipped with all the tools necessary to protect our nation. Although not perfect, the NDAA we passed today takes a critical step forward in accomplishing that mission. At a time when our nation faces numerous threats from across the globe, this critical legislation boosts our war-fighting capabilities, defends our ally, Israel, combats Russian and Chinese aggression, and diminishes some of the woke agenda that has been infused in our military ranks in recent years.
“The FY24 NDAA contains critical initiatives, like providing our troops with the largest pay-increase in twenty years, prohibiting the teaching of CRT in the military, and securing critical funding for both Dobbins Air Reserve Base and Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany.
“A short-term extension of FISA was included in the NDAA. As a champion of the Fourth Amendment and FISA reform, I believe this reauthorization gives us the opportunity to immediately continue toward stronger reforms that ensure that robust safeguards are put in place to protect Americans’ privacy, as guaranteed by the Constitution.”
Overall FY24 NDAA Highlights
Georgia and the 11th Congressional District:
- Authorizes funding at $22 million for the Security Forces Facility at Dobbins Air Reserve Base (ARB).
- Authorizes funding at $40 million for the Army Reserve Center at Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany.
Military Service Members and Families:
- Supports a 5.2 percent increase in service member basic pay, the largest increase in 20 years.
- Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to pay junior enlisted members a monthly bonus, to counter Biden’s record-high inflation.
- Authorizes $240 million to reduce out of pocket housing expenses, to counter inflation.
- Extends military recruitment and retention bonuses and special pay authorities.
- Expands reimbursements available to military spouses for relicensing or business costs when service members relocate.
- Authorizes an additional $10 million in assistance to local schools teaching children with severe disabilities.
Healthcare:
- Strengthens oversight of the TRICARE pharmacy program.
- Expands cardiac-care pilot program to provide electrocardiograms to all individuals entering military service.
- Requires DoD to study and report on health conditions developed by active-duty members of the Armed Forces after administration of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Ending Wokeness in the Military:
- Prohibits funding for the teaching, training, or promotion of Critical Race Theory (CRT) in the military, including at service academies and DoD schools.
- Guts the Pentagon’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) bureaucracy by putting in place a DEI hiring freeze and cutting and capping the pay of DEI bureaucrats.
- Reiterates that no funding may be spent on drag shows, drag queen story hours, or similar events.
- Includes a Parents Bill of Rights to ensure parents of children in DoD schools have a say in their child’s education.
Foreign Policy and National Security:
- Extends the authority for DoD to transfer precision-guided munitions to Israel and requires an assessment of Israel’s precision-guided munition needs.
- Requires U.S. Central Command to engage in regular, joint, and interoperable exercises with Israel to practice and simulate coalition strike, refueling, and other missions.
- Extends the Pacific Defense Initiative to enhance U.S. deterrence and funds it at $14.7 billion, an increase of $5.6 billion over the President’s budget request.
- Requires DoD to assess the joint U.S.-Taiwan production of weapons systems and munitions.
Oversight and Accountability:
- Creates an Inspector General for Ukraine Security Assistance to provide accountability and complete an audit of ALL aid provided to Ukraine.
- Cracks down on unauthorized military personnel record releases and strengthens Congressional oversight of DoD activities.
BACKGROUND: In July, Rep. Loudermilk supported passage of H.R. 2670, the House-drafted version of the Fiscal Year 2024 NDAA. The Conference Report to accompany H.R. 2670, passed today, is the product of bicameral and bipartisan negotiations, and will be sent to the President’s desk for signature.
For more information on the FY24 NDAA, you can click here.
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