National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016
Floor Speech
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Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Thornberry and Ranking Member Smith; my colleague from Nevada, Dr. Heck, chair of the subcommittee; along with the committee staff for working in a bipartisan manner to incorporate the budget changes from the Bipartisan Budget Act into the NDAA. I am pleased to see this very important bill headed back to the President so that it can be signed into law quickly.
The bill includes many good provisions to improve our military. It takes important steps toward personnel reform by including recommendations from the Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission, a key provision in the modernization of the military retirement system.
As has been mentioned before--and this is very, very important, I think, for everyone--while maintaining the 20-year defined retirement, a Thrift Savings Plan is added not just for retirees, but for all serv ice mem bers. This will positively impact the 83 percent of the Force that leaves prior to the 20-year mark.
The NDAA also continues the committee's critical work towards the prevention and response to sexual assault.
Although the bill allows for some pilot programs to improve health care for serv ice mem bers and their families, we need to do more. I am pleased that Chairman Thornberry has asked the Military Personnel Subcommittee to begin working on reforming the Military Health System.
Important issues clearly are addressed in this bill, and I support many of the provisions and all the hard work that went into it. As we know, national security is born from many factions, including the education of our people, investment in science and technology, and the support of sustainable resources and infrastructure.
The Bipartisan Budget Act provides for these investments over the next 2 years. We must capitalize on the time provided and fix the national budget so that we don't find ourselves back in the same situation we were in just a few weeks ago. Our national security is far too important.
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