WILSON STATEMENT ON HOUSE PASSAGE OF NDAA

On December 8, Congressman Joe Wilson, Senior Member of the House Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement on the House passage of the FY2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Conference Report:

"This year's NDAA is a promise that we stand with our nation's military. As an NDAA Committee Conferee, it has been rewarding to see the hard work of Congress finalized in this legislation that advances peace through strength. Enactment of this bill would be the 60th consecutive fiscal year that the NDAA has passed, exhibiting the truly bipartisan nature of the process.

"Our military families are the strong foundation of our nation's military, which is why I am focused on ensuring servicemembers and their families continue to receive benefits they deserve. This NDAA contains several policy and funding initiatives that reaffirm our commitment to America's troops and their families. I am thankful this NDAA provides our servicemembers childcare along with a three percent pay increase, which represents the first time in a decade that U.S. troops will consecutively receive salary boosts of at least three percent.

"In response to the pandemic, this year's NDAA focuses on the health and safety of our servicemembers by ensuring the Defense Department has the diagnostic equipment, testing capabilities, and personal protective equipment needed to keep our men and women in uniform healthy and safe.

"I am grateful this year's NDAA included five bills that I have introduced or led this Congress: the Nuclear Workers Ombudsman Extension Act, the United States-Israel Military Capability Act, the Body Armor for Females Modernization Act, the Small Manufacturer Cybersecurity Enhancement Act, and the DOD Portfolio Management Accountability Act.

"This bill also provides full funding authorization for the Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative at USC-Aiken, pit production, and Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) at the Savannah River Site, all of which I have worked to include through the committee and conference process.

"As a veteran and father of four sons who have served in the military overseas, I appreciate these victories for our military and am committed to continuing to work for our servicemembers and their families. I am thankful to have worked with my colleagues to advance this important, bipartisan legislation."

HIGHLIGHTS OF FY21 NDAA

Savannah River Site (SRS)

• Full funding authorization for PILT for counties in which SRS is located
• Full funding authorization for the Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative (AMC) located at the University of South Carolina - Aiken
• Full funding authorization for pit production at SRS to modernize our nuclear triad
• Includes the Nuclear Workers Ombudsman Extension Act
  • Congressman Joe Wilson is the co-lead with Congressman Ed Perlmutter
  • Extends indefinitely the Office of the Ombudsman for the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Act (EEOICPA) program in order to ensure covered individuals are able to receive compensation and navigate the process

Support for Military Families

• Authorizes a 3.0% increase in basic pay for service members
  • The first time in a decade that troops will consecutively receive salary boosts of at least three percent
• Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to provide childcare to each child of a member of the Armed Forces or civilian employee of the Department of Defense (DoD) while that member or employee works on rotating shifts at a military installation

Military Aircraft in South Carolina

• Supports the budget request for the AH-64 Apache and UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters
  • McEntire Joint National Guard Base supports flight for Apache and Blackhawk helicopters
• Provides additional funding for 5 CH-47F Block II Chinook helicopters
  • McEntire Joint National Guard Base supports flight for Chinook helicopters
• Supports the budget request and service's Unfunded Priorities Lists by authorizing 93 F35 aircraft for the Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps
  • Marine Corps Air Station in Beaufort supports flight for F-35 aircraft

Solidarity with Israeli Alliance

• Includes the United States-Israel Military Capability Act
  • Sponsored by Congressman Joe Wilson
  • Allows the creation of a Defense Department U.S.-Israel working group on operations and technology issues to facilitate greater cooperation between the United States and Israeli companies on defense acquisition and innovation

Military Readiness

• Includes the Body Armor for Females Modernization Act
  • Sponsored by Congressman Joe Wilson
  • Expedites the procurement and fielding of new generation equipment that better protects our servicewomen
  • Fort Jackson trains more than 60% of all women entering the Army each year
• Increases Hazardous Duty Pay owed to troops from $250 to $275 per month
• Includes the Guard and Reserve Hazard Duty Pay Equity Act
  • Congressman Joe Wilson co-led a letter to conferees urging its inclusion with sponsor Congressman Andy Kim
  • Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to standardize payment of hazardous duty incentive pay for members of the Guard and Reserve Components of the Armed Forces

Military Housing Reforms

• Builds on the progress from last year to include sweeping reforms in response to concerns about the management, oversight, and condition of military family housing
• Ensures the Department and private housing partners are responsive to resident concerns
• Authorizes an additional $60 million for oversight and improvement of the Military Housing Privatization Initiative (MHPI) program and to continue addressing environmental and maintenance issues in government-owned family housing
• Overdue improvements include improved identification and remediation of severe environmental hazards, support for families displaced for mold and other hazards, and liaisons for families with special needs children

Cybersecurity Protections

• Establishes a National Cyber Director within the Executive Office of the President to serve as the President's chief advisor on cyber matters and lead coordinator for Executive Branch departments and agencies' cyber issues
• Adopts 17 Cyber Solarium Commission recommendations that strengthen the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and empowers the government to better protect against cyber-attack
• Includes the Small Manufacturer Cybersecurity Enhancement Act
  • Congressman Joe Wilson is the co-lead with Congressman Jimmy Panetta
  • Provides much-needed assistance to small defense manufacturers with cyber compliance and enhances cybersecurity throughout our defense supply chain by expanding DoD's cyber initiatives with MEP Centers

DoD Accountability and Oversight

• Includes the DoD Portfolio Management Accountability Act
  • Congressman Joe Wilson is the co-lead with Congressman Dusty Johnson and Congressman Filemon Vela
  • Requires the Department of Defense to use portfolio management best practices to improve weapon system investments
  • This approach would reduce government waste and inefficiency by significantly reducing duplicative efforts within DoD, saving our taxpayer dollars, and funding other crucial objectives to support our national security

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