Key Cunningham Priorities Included in National Defense Authorization Act

Statement

Rep. Joe Cunningham (SC-01) voted today for the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conference report, which sets policy and authorizes funding for the U.S. military. The package includes the largest military pay raise in a decade, gets rid of the Widow's Tax, provides federal workers with guaranteed paid parental leave, and fulfills several other important Lowcountry priorities. The Senate will now consider the conference report and, if approved, it will be sent to the President to be signed into law.

"I am proud to have voted to pass the NDAA today," said Rep. Joe Cunningham. "Lowcountry military installations like Parris Island, Joint Base Charleston, and the Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort are essential to our country's national defense. It's our responsibility to make sure they have the tools and resources to keep us safe and we fulfilled that responsibility today. Lowcountry servicemembers and their families have sacrificed so much for us, and we must set them up for success on and off the battlefield. I will continue to work to get this package across the finish line and signed into law."

Cunningham successfully fought for the NDAA to authorize $37.2 million to modernize an outdated live-fire training range on Parris Island necessary to maintain the flow of new Marines and ensure military readiness. This funding was not included in the President's original budget request. Cunningham testified before the House Armed Services Committee in March on the need for Parris Island's range modernization project.

Cunningham also authored and successfully passed several amendments to the NDAA that fulfill important Lowcountry priorities, including:

-Helping military installations address rising sea levels and flooding problems by giving them access to funds to construct, replace, and maintain roads that lead to military installations, as well as to air and seaports vital to our national security;
-Expanding eligibility to the My Career Advancement Account Scholarship Program to spouses of members of the Coast Guard;
-Authorizing the creation of a Coast Guard Junior ROTC program available to schools across the country, including Lucy Beckham High School in Mt. Pleasant;
-Gathering the data necessary to ensure the proper maintenance of F-35s at Marine Air Corps Station Beaufort.

Previously, Cunningham urged the leaders of the House and Senate Armed Services Conference Committee to retain his amendment that authorizes the creation of a Coast Guard JROTC program at Mt. Pleasant's Lucy Beckham High School to the final version of the NDAA. He also called on the Conference Committee to retain his amendment ensuring proper maintenance of the F-35 program that is vital to Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort.

Some of the key aspects of the bill include:

-Giving our servicemembers a 3.1 percent pay raise, the largest in a decade;
-Guaranteeing 12 weeks of paid parental leave for all federal workers;
-Getting rid of the Widow's Tax, which unfairly targets the surviving family members of service members who pass away during active duty or retirees who die of a service-connected cause;
-Numerous provisions to take care of military families, improve military housing and clean up contaminated drinking water at military bases.

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