Rep. Veasey Votes to Honor Texas Servicemembers, Strengthen National Security

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Rep. Veasey voted for the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023. This legislation will strengthen America's national security, honor the heroism of Texas servicemembers and make critical investments in cutting-edge technology. Additionally, House Democrats successfully blocked Republicans' attempt to restrict servicemembers' access to healthcare – preserving a Department of Defense program that ensures servicemembers can travel to access reproductive care if they are stationed in a state that criminalizes abortion.

"Today, I was proud to join a bipartisan group of my colleagues to pass this year's NDAA that will provide Texas military families with the support they have earned while bolstering America's national security, strengthening our technological advantage, and promoting our leadership on the world stage. This legislation will also expand pathways to opportunity for our underserved communities, invest in clean energy, and deliver a historic investment in marine conservation," said Rep. Veasey.

Thanks to the leadership of Congressman Veasey and his colleagues, the FY23 NDAA includes:

• Additional Lockheed Martin F-35 Fighter Jet Funding, made in Fort Worth and used by many of our allies around the world.
• Additional Bell V-22 Osprey Funding, used by the Air Force, Marines, and Navy to perform many complex transportation and medevac operations.
• Improved oversight on weapons systems sustainment, aiming to increase accountability for how the Pentagon budgets its maintenance accounts.
• Key pay increases for service members and their families, including a 4.6% pay raise for service members and civilian personnel and inflation bonuses for service members earning less than $45,000/year
• Support for HBCUs and other minority serving institutions, allocating over $131 million for research activities at HBCUs and establishing a pilot program to increase research capacity at minority-serving institutions.
• Civilian harm mitigation measures, reflecting the democratic values of the United States as a strategic and moral imperative by creating a DOD Center for Excellence in Civilian Harm Mitigation.
• New investments in science and technology competitiveness, including additional funding for next-generation capabilities in hypersonics, electronic warfare, artificial intelligence, and software.
• Supply chain security, including an assessment of dual-use technology that the Chinese Communist Party might exploit and improving risk management in DoD supply chains involving pharmaceutical products.
• Resources for U.S. allies and partners, including $800 million for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) and over $11 billion towards the Pacific Deterrence Initiative, as well as authorizing the Taiwan Enhanced Resilience Act of 2022.

Passed annually by Congress since 1961, the NDAA authorizes funding levels for the Department of Defense. This legislation allows the Armed Forces to pay, train and equip U.S. servicemembers, support America's allies around the world, and carry out essential national security operations.

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