Congressman Loebsack Increases National Guard Equipment Budget By $600 Million In The Defense Bill
Press Release
Today, Congressman Dave Loebsack voted on the National Defense Authorization Act for FY10. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, Congressman Loebsack added critical provisions to the bill that will fill gaps in servicemember's compensation and enhance military readiness. The Congressman was also able to secure funds to modernize Iowa National Guard facilities in Fairfield, Cedar Rapids, Middletown, and Muscatine.
"Our National Guard and Reserve members serve our country with dignity, pride, and commitment," said Congressman Dave Loebsack. "This Defense Authorization Bill focuses largely on restoring military readiness while taking care of our troops and their families. This bill works to make sure that our service members have the tools, training, and equipment they need to continue their missions and duties both at home and abroad."
Below is an outline of key components in the bill:
A $600 million increase above the President's budget request for equipment for the National Guard and Reserve.
Provides $6.7 billion for Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles, $1.2 billion above the President's request, which fully funds the new MRAP All-Terrain variant requirement for Afghanistan.
Adds $200 million to support National Guard and Reserve military construction projects.
Provides a 3.4 percent military pay raise.
Prohibits fee increases on TRICARE inpatient care.
Expands TRICARE health coverage for reserve component members and their families for 180 days prior to mobilization.
Provides travel and transportation for three designated persons, including non-family members, to visit hospitalized service members.
Enables seriously injured service members to use a non-medical attendant for help with daily living or during travel for medical treatment.
Additionally, the Congressman was able to include several key initiatives, including provisions for the creation of a trainees, transients, and holdees and students (TTHS) account for the Army National Guard, provisions for greater interagency coordination in Afghanistan, provisions to improve ammunition plants and protect ammunition plant workers, as well as provisions focused on improving sexual assault prevention programs as well as medical care and response for sexual assault victims.
Below is an outline of the Congressman's provisions and amendments:
Creation of a TTHS Account to Enhance Military Readiness
At any given time 13.3% of National Guard Soldiers are nondeployable. When the unit is deployed, the servicemembers who have not been fully trained or are nondeployable remain at home while the gap in the unit is filled by fully trained members from another unit. The result is that units left at home are not fully ready to respond to homeland emergencies.
Requires the Secretary of the Army to develop plans to create a Trainees, Transients, Holdees, and Students account to fully train Soldiers and ensure that units are deployed as a full, cohesive body, which will increase unit moral, flexibility, and overall military readiness.
Provisions for Great Interagency Coordination in Afghanistan
Aims to move Afghanistan towards security and independence so that American troops can come home.
Encourages interagency coordination, staffing, and resourcing of development, reconstruction, and capacity building programs in Afghanistan.
Improving Infrastructure and Safety of Ammunition Plants
Requires reports on immediate requirements for ammunition plant infrastructure and a means to assess what is needed at ammunition plants.
Focuses on improvements and infrastructure changes that are needed to ensure worker safety.
Sexual Assault Prevention and Sexual Assault Victim Care
Development of a sexual assault prevention program, including action plans to reduce the number of assaults.
Creates a way to evaluate and monitor the prevention program, gauging the effectiveness of the program, in addition to creating sexual assault training programs for commanders.
Seeks to implement and encourage quality care for victims of sexual assault, particularly in combat zones.
Ensures a report on the availability and adequacy of medical care, including mental health care, for victims of sexual assault in combat zones, as well as the availability post-mobilization care for members of the Reserve Components.
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