07.14.23
Rep. Takano Statement on House Passage of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024
Washington, DC – Today, Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) released the following statement after the House voted 219-210 to advance H.R.2670, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24). The NDAA is an annual defense policy bill, which authorizes $874 billion in discretionary spending to support Department of Defense (DoD) programs.
“While the FY24 NDAA is intended to strengthen our military and build on our defense operations, it has been coopted to attack diversity efforts within our military instead of focusing on global security challenges, and the increasingly high defense budget will place a burden on the middle class as they face Republican cuts to funding in areas such as health care, housing, and education,” said Rep. Mark Takano.
“I remain committed to our servicemembers and veterans despite these efforts to undermine our domestic investments and target the most vulnerable members of our armed services. I was proud to introduce amendments to improve the underlying bill and further a national defense policy that would continue to strengthen our national security. Honoring Korean American and Korean Veterans and providing pathways for noncitizen veteran naturalization are among the eight amendments I introduced to the FY24 NDAA.”
Two amendments were adopted as part of the FY24 NDAA that seek to bring additional accountability to DOD contracting and help study the scope of price gouging and market consolidation within the defense industrial base:
· Amendment #1142: Directs GAO to report on the use of Other Transaction Authority (OTA) Contracts across the Department of Defense.
· Amendment #286: Directs GAO to report on market consolidation within the defense industrial base and the economic and national security impacts of any resultant anti-competitive behavior.
Rep. Takano also introduced or co-sponsored the following amendments:
· Amendment #1049: Mandates a joint program be implemented between DHS and DOD to afford eligible noncitizens the opportunity to naturalize at any point on or after the first day of service on active duty.
· Amendment #1078: Ensures JAGs receive training to function as liaisons with USCIS to assist noncitizen members of the Armed Forces apply for citizenship.
· Amendment #1292: Ensures individuals trained in immigration in law are present at Military Entrance Processing Stations.
· Amendment #242: Prohibits discrimination in the military and ensures that standards for eligibility for service and equality of treatment and opportunity in service may not include any criteria relating to protected categories and gender.
· Amendment #1276: Expresses the Sense of Congress that Korean-American and Korean veterans who fought alongside United States Armed Forces in the Vietnam war served with distinction and honor.
· Amendment #427: Repeals the restriction on usage of funds and facilities of Department of Defense for abortion care.
