Morris Leader

Congresswoman Advances the Bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act for FY2024

Washington, DC— On June 21, Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11)completed the committee mark-up of the bipartisan, must-pass National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024, advancing the final bill out of committee. 

The NDAA is critical bipartisan legislation that Congress authors each year to establish defense priorities, make organizational shifts to military posture, and provide guidance on how military funding can be spent. This year’s bill also includes critical efforts to develop new and sustainable fuels and protect our environment and safeguards to address sexual assault and harassment in our military.

Despite the agenda of several extreme right wing members of the majority, Sherrill built off the success of her last four years on the House Armed Services Committee securing nearly $100 million more for Picatinny Arsenal programs and the New Jersey innovation economy, and creating new economic opportunities for servicemembers.

"The mark-up of the NDAA is one the most effective avenues for me to fight and secure major wins for NJ-11 through support of Picatinny Arsenal, economic opportunity expansion, and supporting our servicemembers, veterans, and their families,” said Rep. Sherrill. “This year, I worked tirelessly to deliver support for the Arsenal and the men and women who serve there.”

“I also, through the NDAA, protected our servicemembers from fraud, was able to help to end the mishandling of sexual misconduct cases and cut through red tape to make healthcare more accessible to servicemembers and their families. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the House and Senate to shepherd the Committee-reported bill through the legislative process— cementing these wins for NJ-11 and our country,” Sherrill continued. 

The NDAA also includes provisions that will strengthen Picatinny Arsenal, one of the largest employers in NJ-11, and support the work conducted there. Rep. Sherrill championed additional funding for Picatinny programs, including:

• Armaments Technology for Unmanned Systems
• Assured Munitions Positioning, Navigation, and Timing
• Energetics Materials and Manufacturing Technology
• Battlefield Armaments and Ammunition Supply Chains
• Critical Energetic Materials Chemistries and Chemical Synthesis Technologies
• Armaments Based Counter Small Unmanned Aerial Systems
• Advanced Armament System Materials and Hardened Structures
• Overmatching the Speed of Battle
• Advanced Technologies for Extended Range Munitions
• Replenished Part Demonstration Research  

Rep. Sherrill offered and successfully secured inclusion of 16 amendments to the NDAA, including:

• Creating a risk framework for servicemembers to help them avoid phone apps that pose national and personal security risks
• Studying how to make air travel safer and protect our national security by tracking unmanned aircraft
• Enhancing the Department of Defense’s investments in critical national security technologies 
• Protecting wildlife by monitoring light pollution at military installations
• Countering the CCP by boosting collaboration between the DoD and the Department of Commerce
• Investing in alternative energy technologies to enhance our resilience and mitigate climate change
• Protecting Gold Star families from predatory financial advisors
• Strengthening accountability for command climates that protect military sexual harassers
• Tracking incidents of Sepsis among our servicemembers
• Investing in our workforce by strengthening Registered Apprenticeships within the Skillbridge program 
• Advancing innovation with the recruitment of women into STEM positions within the DoD
• Investigating sexual assault at the Joint Task Force Support Forces-Antarctica
• Protecting women’s health by exploring how to increase access to feminine hygiene products for women in the military community
• Investing in the North Jersey innovation economy by exploring next-generation propellants under development at NJIT and Picatinny Arsenal
• Guarding against infectious diseases by studying mosquito-borne illnesses
• Pushing the DoD to invest in operational energy conservation guidelines 

The NDAA supports servicemembers, veterans, and their families, by:

• Increasing military basic pay by 5.2% for servicemembers
• Expanding access to child care for military families
• Lowering the cost of dental care 
• Funding the refurbishment and new construction of military housing
• Supporting the financial security for junior enlisted servicemembers 

Other notable items in the NDAA include: 

• Establishing a Space National Guard
• Investing in the Organic Defense Industrial Base
• Expanding missile defense and hypersonic capabilities
• Strengthening oversight over defense acquisition and foreign military sales
• Emphasizing and strengthens our efforts to counter the CCP

Rep. Sherrill also raised critical issues throughout the mark-up’s debate concerning the reckless holds on military promotions as a result of one Senator’s attempt to push his extreme anti-abortion agenda on servicewomen and the supporting the advancement of women in our armed forces. 

Rep. Sherrill is a graduate of the US Naval Academy and served in the Navy for almost 10 years as a helicopter pilot and Russian policy officer. As a Russian policy officer, she worked on the implementation of our nuclear treaty obligations and oversaw the relationship between the U.S. Navy and Russian Federation Navy. She now serves on the House Armed Services Committee, where she serves on the Tactical Air and Land Forces and Readiness Subcommittees.

Original source can be found here