Rep. Wild Delivers For Our Troops, Secures Key Human Rights Provisions in NDAA

Statement

Washington, D.C. -- This week, Representative Susan Wild (PA-07) joined a bipartisan majority in the House that voted yes to pass the FY22 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which included several amendments that she successfully fought to include in the finalized package. The defense bill along with Rep. Wild's amendments will deliver historic policy changes that would strengthen America's human rights commitments and address unprecedented challenges facing our country at home and abroad.

"For the past 60 consecutive years, Democrats and Republicans have come together to put the American people first and meet our responsibilities of delivering for our servicemembers and their families." said Rep. Wild. "I was proud to secure amendments in this year's NDAA that will honor our American values of protecting those most vulnerable, particularly innocent civilians caught in the path of destructive warfare. As our country grapples with partisan politics, it's important to me that we come together to deliver on promises for servicemembers who put their livelihoods at risk to protect our freedom. This bill draws on the key sources of our national power: our unwavering democratic values and our deep network of partnerships and commitments to alliances around the world."

Wild authored and co-led passage for amendments that improve the FY2022 NDAA. The amendments are aimed at strengthening America's human rights commitments and improving conditions for servicemembers. She championed the following adopted provisions:

Allocate a total of $2 million dollars for the Defense Institute of International Legal Studies and the Institute of Security Governance for civilian harm mitigation to ensure effective efforts to reduce civilian casualties and harm.
Require reporting on human rights abuses related to arms exported by the top five global arms exporters, including Chine and Russia. This study will aid in safeguarding U.S. servicemembers, American citizens abroad, and other civilians. It will also report on the potential of exported arms being used by hostile anti-American non-state actors.
Create a pilot program within the Department of Defense's Transition Assistance Program to provide mental health counseling to transitioning service members, and specifically helps them get informed on mental health programs and benefits from their local VA.
Requires the military to implement the government's own recommendations to increase the safety of military training drills to prevent needless deaths and injuries during training.

The FY22 NDAA will improve the quality of life for our servicemembers and their families, including authorizing support for a 2.7% pay increase for our troops and increasing parental leave for caregivers in military families. The bill also includes historic changes to combat sexual assault in the military and establishes an Office of Special Victim Prosecutor to combat these crimes. It also improves health care and increases access to mental health treatments.

"All of these important changes will make lives easier for servicemembers and their families, finally giving them the well-deserved benefits they earned and deserve, " said Rep. Wild.

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