Congressman Horsford Secures Funding for Nevada’s Military Families with National Defense Authorization Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the U.S. House of Representatives took up the National Defense Authorization Act, the first NDAA under the new Democratic majority that works to secure a strong national defense that is centered on the needs of our service members and their families, while advancing American values.

"Our military service-members and their families sacrifice so much to defend the values of our country. They are the single most valuable asset to our national security," Congressman Horsford said. "This piece of legislation does more than just fund our military activities, it provides necessary investments in our service-members and their families. Nevada is home to 10,322 service-members and their families and I am proud to support legislation that will improve the daily lives of the people who put their lives on the line time and time again."

This bill includes concrete measures to improve the lives of our service-members and their families, eliminates wasteful spending, promotes a more inclusive military by reinforcing the values of diversity, and solidifies Congress' oversight role of defense programs and the authorization to use military force. In addition to a 3.1 percent raise for all service-members, the National Defense Authorization Act will improve the lives of Nevada's military families and for service members across the country:

• Takes care of military families: The bill provides funding for military families, authorizing a basic needs allowance to help those families who may need, but do not qualify for SNAP. This legislation also provides additional support to military spouses through occupational training and licensing programs and authorizes financial assistance to child care providers for those who care for the children of members who die in the line of duty. Another $40 million will be authorized to assist local education facilities that serve military dependents, as well as $10 million to those that work with children living with disabilities.
• Provides paid family leave to service-members: Under this legislation, service-members and federal employees would be able to take up to 12 weeks of paid family leave for the birth, adoption or fostering of a child or to care for a child or spouse with a serious health condition.
• Provides housing security for military families: The NDAA requires military services to establish a tenants' bill of rights for families living in privatized housing and will develop health and safety standards for housing. This bill will also authorize $140.8 million to hire oversight and management staff for military housing. Additionally, it will create a public database for complaints.
• Increases access to women's care in military insurance plans: For those with certain military insurance plans, the NDAA will eliminate any cost-sharing or co-payments for access to birth control. It will also improve access to emergency contraception for survivors of sexual assault.

In addition to these improvements for military service-members and their families, the NDAA creates necessary reforms to hold our Department of Defense accountable and increase transparency in our national defense operations:

• Increases strong oversight of military use: In the nearly 18 years after the passage of the 2001 AUMF, it has been used well beyond the scope Congress initially intended when it was passed in September 2001. The NDAA will allow Congress to revisit the authority provided to the Executive Branch by the 2001 AUMF and to reassert Congress' constitutionally-mandated role in war making. The NDAA will hold the Department of Defense accountable in the use of this funding and demand transparency in maintaining our national security.
• Blocks wall funding and reforms border deployment: Importantly, the NDAA blocks wall funding and includes reforms for deploying armed forces to the U.S. southern border. This bill includes a blanket prohibition on allocating funds to build President Trump's border wall. This legislation also prohibits the use of Department of Defense funds to house unaccompanied children separated from their parents at the southern border or within 100 miles of the border.
• Increases diversity and protects minority identities in the military: With this bill, President Trump's ban on transgender people serving in the military would be overturned. The 14,000 transgender service-members would no longer serve in fear—additionally, the amendment would prohibit any discrimination within the military, stating that any person who meets the occupational standards can serve regardless of race, color, religion, sexual orientation or gender.
• Fights climate change: The NDAA requires the DoD and the Secretary of Defense to develop a master plan to combat climate change, including an assessment of current risks posed to the environment by the military. The DoD will also be asked to report on its progress toward reaching 25 percent renewable energy at military installations by 2025.
• Protects against nuclear catastrophe: This legislation prohibits funding for the deployment of new, low-yield nuclear missile warheads and limits funds until the DoD provides a report on the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty and the New START Treaty.

Earlier this year, Congressman Horsford voted to approve the Fiscal Year 2020 spending bill that secured robust funding for numerous priorities of Nevada's 4th District and communities across Nevada. That bill provided $690.2 billion in discretionary funds to defend against evolving threats, prepare for future challenges, and meet the needs of service-members and families—15.8 billion above the enacted level. This allocation included $1.055 billion for key readiness programs to prepare forces, including the National Guard and reserve, for combat operations.