Congressman David Scott (GA-13), chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, today issued the following statement regarding his vote to maintain the strength of our nation’s defense enterprise with H.R. 4350, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022:
“With today’s passage off the FY22 National Defense Authorization Act, Congress has again proven that our unwavering commitments both to national security and our American military families remain a rare opportunity for unity across the aisle,” said Congressman David Scott. “This bipartisan bill, which includes my amendment to help expand the talent pipeline for Department of Defense construction projects to meaningfully reflect the diversity of our nation, advances critical support for our servicemembers, improves our readiness and reasserts the importance of our international partnerships. I am proud to stand with my colleagues as we continue the important work of caring for those in uniform while providing for a strong national defense.”
BACKGROUND
This legislation includes a number of important priorities that Democrats fought for and secured, including:
Vital benefits for Servicemembers and their families, including a 2.7 percent pay increase, expanded parental leave, improved mental health care services and a new basic needs allowance for lower-income Servicemembers.
Combating sexual assault in the military by creating an Office of Special Victim Prosecutor to prosecute these crimes, removing the commanding officer from these decisions and finally criminalizing sexual harassment under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
Significant investments in emerging technologies to modernize institutions of national security, including a 36 percent increase in defense-wide research and development, as well as new funding to improve DOD research labs.
Action on the climate crisis by removing barriers to improving the extreme weather resilience of critical defense infrastructure and requiring the DOD to consider climate risks in its strategic planning.
Addressing strategic and security challenges, ranging from competition with China, to the risks posed by violent extremism and white nationalism, to strengthening our cybersecurity infrastructure, to strengthening the provisions providing for the needs of our Afghan partners with Special Immigrant Visas.
Recruiting a stronger, fairer, more diverse Armed Services by promoting academic partnerships with minority-serving colleges and universities, rooting out extremism among Servicemembers and establishing a $15 minimum wage for covered DOD service and construction contracts.
