Rep. Luria Secures $37 Billion in Increased Defense Spending, 8 Amendments in NDAA As Legislation Passes House
July 14, 2022
| WASHINGTON, D.C. – House Armed Services Committee (HASC) Vice Chair Rep. Elaine Luria (D-VA) secured $37 billion and eight amendments as the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passed the House of Representatives today. Included in the FY 2023 NDAA is an amendment introduced by Rep. Luria and Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME) to increase defense spending by $37 billion, including at least $7.4 billion to combat inflation, more than $4 billion for ship procurement and maintenance, over $1.6 billion in research and development funding, and $550 million for security assistance to Ukraine. “This year’s NDAA represents a bipartisan effort to support our active-duty personnel with a pay raise and invest in the critical capabilities that our armed forces need to defend our nation and interests abroad. Additionally, the NDAA includes several of my amendments to directly address the quality of life for sailors during a complex overhaul, like we recently saw with USS George Washington.” Rep. Luria said. “As a 20-year Navy veteran, I am proud of the progress we have made in this year’s NDAA to grow our Navy, strengthen our military, and send a clear message of our commitment to freedom and global security. I will continue to work with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support our military, and I look forward to negotiating with the Senate on the final topline number.” Rep. Luria introduced two additional floor amendments to the NDAA for aircraft carrier procurement and Navy shipbuilding contracting. Four of Rep. Luria’s amendments to address quality of life issues aboard USS George Washington, including housing, mental health and resiliency support, access to parking manning hours, and tour lengths, and require the Navy to thoroughly examine support for sailors currently assigned to USS George Washington and other ships going through the RCOH process also passed. Rep. Luria’s amendment to establish a commission on the future of the Navy also passed today. The commission will review the force structure of the Navy, with an emphasis on readiness, training, ship maintenance, ship building, manning, and personnel. More information on Rep. Luria’s amendments, including those introduced on the floor, can be found below: Golden-Luria Amendment This amendment adds an additional $37B to the defense budget including $7.4 billion to combat inflation, more than $4 billion for ship procurement and maintenance, more than $1.6 billion in research and development funding, and $550 million for security assistance to Ukraine. More information can be found here. National Commission on the Future of the Navy Rep. Luria’s amendment would establish a commission comprised of Members of Congress and individuals with expertise in Navy policy and strategy, force structure, organization, and design to study the present conditions of the service. The commission will review the force structure of the Navy, with an emphasis on readiness, training, ship maintenance, ship building, manning, and personnel. More information can be found here. Aircraft Carrier Procurement Strategy The amendment directs the Secretary of the Navy to submit a report no later than February 1, 2023, which compares potential acquisition strategies and cost savings associated with the 5th and 6th aircraft carriers in the Ford-class, CVN 82 and CVN 83. Such a report should consider 4 specific options for both 4- and 5-year build intervals: 2 years of Advance Procurement for single ship procurement of CVN 82, 3 years of Advance Procurement for single ship procurement of CVN 82, 2 years of Advance Procurement for a block buy of CVN 82 and CVN 83, and 3 years of Advance Procurement for a block buy of CVN 82 and CVN 83. Navy Shipbuilding Contracting Strategy Rep. Luria’s amendment would require SECNAV to report to Congress on the service’s MAC-MO contracting strategy. The Navy shifted for a Multi-Ship Multi-Option strategy in 2015-2016, and this report would focus on how the Service is identifying those lessons, how they are incorporated, an assessment of continuing ship availability delays, and current perform-to-plan metrics. USS George Washington Quality of Life The amendment examines parking, availability of housing, availability of mental health and resiliency support, and what recommendations or actions the Navy is taking to remedy concerns from sailors. More information can be found here on Rep. Luria’s Feasibility Study on Housing and Parking at RCOH Locations, Notification of Manning of Afloat Naval Forces, and Alternative Approaches to Manning for Ships Undergoing RCOH amendments. Military Construction and Placement of F-22 Training Squadron Rep. Luria’s amendment requires the Air Force to submit a report to Congress on the proposed plan for moving and basing 186 F-22 aircraft, the anticipated location of the unit, and the schedule for the establishment of the unit. The CPF funding will assist in constructing a new intelligence facility on Joint Base Langley-Eustis to provide workspace for briefings, instruction, training, administration, storage, and customer service for the Air Force Reserve Intelligence Group and three squadrons. More information can be found here. |
Congresswoman Elaine Luria represents Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District. She serves on the House Armed Services Committee, where she is the committee’s Vice Chair, the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, where she serves as Chair of the Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee, and the House Committee on Homeland Security. |
Issues:EconomyNational Security