Congressman Anthony Brown Praises Passage Of His NDAA Amendment To Enhance Tactical Vehicle Safety

Statement

Congressman Anthony G. Brown (MD-04), a member of the House Armed Services Committee and 30-year Army veteran, released the following statement on the House Armed Service Committee passing his amendment to establish a new pilot program to install and maintain data recorders in Army and Marine Corps tactical vehicles as part of the FY23 National Defense Authorization Act:

"We must work to ensure the safety of our service members. Tactical vehicle accidents are preventable if we improve training and ensure a culture of safety within the Marines and Army. This provision establishing data recorders in tactical vehicles will help alert supervisors of potential lapses in safety, ensure accountability and empower our services to make better decisions when and if another accident occurs. My heart continues to go out to families still grieving the losses of their sons and daughters. We have a responsibility to prevent additional and preventable tragedies from occurring."

As part of the FY22 NDAA, Congressman Brown passed a provision to direct the Secretaries of the Army and Navy to develop plans to address the recommendations included in a 2021 Government Accountability Office's (GAO) report. The report follows increasing numbers of rollovers, including the tragic death of Marine 1LT Hugh Conor McDowell, who was a victim of a training rollover at Camp Pendleton.

From 2010 to 2019, 123 soldiers and marines lost their lives along with over 300 accidents that resulted in permanent total disability or damages.

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