Springs Times

Washington, D.C. – On July 14, Congressman Doug Lamborn, Chairman of the House Armed Services Strategic Forces Subcommittee, joined his colleagues to pass the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). H.R. 2670 passed in the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 219-210. The legislation provides $886 billion for America’s national defense and includes 54 provisions that were led by Congressman Lamborn.

“Today I voted in favor of the most critical annual piece of legislation for our national security and service members,” said Congressman Lamborn. "As Chairman of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee, I had the distinct honor of leading more than 50 significant provisions to enhance America's deterrence posture and support Colorado's defense interests.

“The FY24 NDAA prioritizes hypersonic development, bolsters America’s nuclear deterrent, and advances missile defense capabilities while addressing the pacing challenges posed by our adversaries. This legislation also strengthens America’s military space capabilities to protect our most valuable space assets and ensure American dominance.

 “This year’s NDAA takes vital steps to reject the radical left’s divisive CRT and DEI initiatives within our military. This legislation instead prioritizes the morale and welfare of our valiant service members and their families with a pay raise and additional family support.” 

Congressman Lamborn secured several amendments and initiatives specific to Colorado’s Fifth Congressional District and surrounding areas that will:

1. Establish Conditions on the Final Closure of Certain Portions of Pueblo Chemical Depot and Chemical Agent Destruction Pilot Plant: Requires DOD to update their previous plan to close the Pueblo Chemical Depot no later than one year following the conclusion of their study or by September 2024, whichever occurs first.
2. Promote the Development & Acquisition of Hybrid Energy Systems: Authorizes an additional $2 million for DOD to prioritize funding for the development and acquisition of American-made, high-powered, hybrid energy technology designed to improve military readiness through increased power delivery.
3. Require a Report on Dwell Times and Other Concerns for Air National Guard Units Supporting Space Mission Deployments: Report from the National Guard on Air National Guard members who are assigned to space missions on dwell times and training concerns.
4. Advance Genealogy Collection of Family Members of Servicemembers Killed at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941: Provides funding and authorization for the Department to contract out to a private company to assist with DNA collection of families of victims from the USS Arizona in order to collect, archive, and maintain them until such a time as DPAA is prepared to make identifications.
5. Require a Report on Impacts of TRICARE Reimbursement Final Rule on Children's Hospitals: Requires a report on the impacts of a new TRICARE reimbursement rule on Children's Hospitals' ability to provide care to military families.
6. Fund University Consortium for Space Technology in Space Force Applied Research: Moves $2.5M from USAF Basic Research to Space Force Applied Research Space Technology for the University Consortium for Space Technology, from Air Force Basic Research Line.
7. Safeguard Air National Guard Fighter Recapitalization: Prohibits retirement of any Air National Guard fighter jet assets until replacement capabilities are identified and allocated to units. (Cosponsored)
8. Prohibit Funding on Organizations that Censor Free Speech: Modifies SBIR and STTR programs to prevent funds from being used to enter into a contract with NewsGuard Technologies, Inc., the Global Disinformation Index ("GDI"), incorporated in the United Kingdom as "Disinformation Index LTD, or other "fact-checking" groups that would advise the censoring or blacklisting of news sources based on subjective criteria or political biases. Also requires training to ensure that these groups are not permitted to conduct business with DOD. (Cosponsored)
9. Establish an Explosive Ordinance Corps: Makes the Explosive Ordinance Corps a standalone organization, rather than a subset of the Ordinance Corps. (Cosponsored)

The FY24 NDAA also:  

• Provides the overmatch we need to counter CCP aggression
• Eliminates the infiltration of the left's social agenda into our military and restores the focus of our military on lethality, including the banning of CRT and ending DEI overreach
• Strengthens our nuclear posture, improves our missile defense, and accelerates the delivery of hypersonic technology to deter the rapidly expanding CCP and Russian nuclear and hypersonic arsenals
• Increases oversight and demands accountability from the Biden Administration, requiring regular reports and audits on U.S. security assistance to Ukraine
• Provides assistance to the 8,000 servicemembers discharged for failing to take the COVID-19 vaccine and gives them a path back to service
• Provides a 5.2% increase in service member basic pay, the largest pay raise in 20 years
• Improves military readiness and strengthens the defense industrial base to ensure our warfighters are ready to fight tonight
• Enhances security cooperation with Israel and bolsters Israel’s national security

The National Defense Authorization Act is legislation that Congress passes each year to make changes to the policies and organization of United States defense agencies and provide guidance on how military funding may be spent. Though funding for the U.S. military must be approved through appropriation bills, Congress uses the NDAA to establish defense priorities, make organizational changes to military agencies, and provide guidance to the Department of Defense.In addition to the Department of Defense, the legislation also covers military-related programs run by other agencies, such as the Department of Energy's nuclear weapons programs and the Federal Bureau of Investigation's counterintelligence activities.

Watch Congressman Lamborn's Floor speech in support of the FY24 National Defense Authorization Act here.

Read Congressman Lamborn’s statement on the passage of the NDAA from last month’s House Armed Services Committee markup here.

Read Congressman Lamborn’s opening statement during last month’s Strategic Forces Subcommittee markup here.

Original source can be found here