The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), along with eight amendments of which Rep. Nancy Mace (SC-01) proposed. In response, Rep. Mace has issued the following statement:
“Keeping our country secure is of the utmost importance. The National Defense Authorization Act will help provide a budget to our national defense with appropriate means. South Carolina's first congressional district contains approximately one third of our state’s entire veteran population and is also home to numerous military installations and VA facilities. Eight of the 12 amendments which I proposed were implemented in this vital legislation which will directly impact veterans and active duty service members in the Lowcountry.”
A few implementations of the NDAA Include:
- A 4.6% pay raise for service members and additional 2.4% pay bonus for enlisted personnel.
- Creates new incentives for service members to report waste, fraud, and abuse, resulting in cost savings.
- Fully funds the National Guard's operation and maintenance account to support a border deployment and clearly states that the border crisis is a national security issue.
- Authorizes 13 new ships and $250 million to expand and modernize our shipyards.
Rep. Mace’s Amendments Include:
- Establishes a standard record of military service for all members of the armed forces
- Authorizes Department of Veterans Affairs providers to assist veterans in providing recommendations, opinions, and completion of the forms reflecting these recommendations or opinions in compliance with state-legal medical cannabis programs.
- Extends consumer credit protections to active duty armed and uniformed consumers in a combat zone, aboard a U.S. vessel, or away from their usual duty stations and prohibits the inclusion on a consumer report of adverse credit information that occurred while a uniformed consumer was serving.
- Establishes a pilot program to improve military readiness through nutrition and wellness initiatives.
- Clarifies the scope of the PFAS Data Reporting from the 2020 NDAA.
- Amends Sec. 133 for Requirements of the Study and Acquisition Strategy for the Combat Search and Rescue Mission of the Air Force to include electric short take-off and landing with the assessment of key current, emerging, and future technologies.
- Establishes safe harbor for Veterans accessing State legal cannabis programs and protects VA benefits already in place.
- Closes a loophole which allowed Russia to use its gold reserves to circumvent sanctions. The amendment authorizes the President to sanction individuals who knowingly participate in a transaction involving the sale, supply, or transfer (including transportation) of gold, directly or indirectly, to Russia.
