Congressman Kim Votes to Pass Bipartisan National Security and Defense Authorization Act, Delivering Jobs and Wins for New Jersey

Press Release

Today, Congressman Andy Kim (NJ-03) voted to pass the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023 through the House of Representatives. Congressman Kim worked to ensure we are investing in the people who keep us safe while also securing historic investments in technology and innovation that will help keep jobs in New Jersey. This bill will prepare our country for the unprecedented challenges ahead and honor the sacrifices our servicemembers and their families make through a much deserved pay raise.

"The last place partisan politics belongs is in our national security, and I'm proud to be working with colleagues in both parties towards achieving significant wins for our servicemembers, their families, New Jersey, and our economy," said Congressman Kim. "Our country's budget should reflect our priorities as a nation. I'm glad that this bill prioritizes people -- giving them a deserved pay raise, lowering costs to better meet the childcare needs of our military families, improved health benefits for our Guard and Reservists, and expanding workforce development and job training for the future. I'm also proud to have secured the KC-46 Pegasus mission's presence here in New Jersey that will provide new, exciting opportunities for our Guardsmen and women. This mission will help bolster communities around the joint base and anchor the base right here in New Jersey for decades to come. I'm proud of this country's investment in the people who make our country strong and keep us safe every single day."

The bill passed by a vote of 350-80.

Provisions championed by Congressman Kim include:

Caring for Our Servicemembers and Their Families

A 4.6% pay raise for all military servicemembers.
Ensuring all servicemembers have access to affordable housing and including allowances based on cost-of-living needs. 
An increase of the basic needs allowance that is designed to help military families put food on the table and live dignified lives.
Congressman Kim is a cosponsor of the Military Hunger Prevention Act and highlighted hunger as a critical issue among military families in an Armed Services Committee hearing

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Authorizing a study on the benefits of offering the TRICARE dental program to members of the reserve and their families. This study would show the benefits of Congressman Kim's Dental Care for Our Troops Act that would provide guard and reservists access to TRICARE's dental programs.
Dental issues have been identified by the Reserve Organization of America as a leading medical reason guard and reservists are found unfit to deploy.
Dental Care for Our Troops is part of Congressman Kim's larger Healthcare for Our Troops Act that would make no-fee healthcare available to the over 800,000 Americans serving our nation in the Reserves and National Guard. The Congressman believes that anyone who wears the uniform and defends our nation should have healthcare.
Improvements to specialty care referrals during permanent changes of station and utilizing a third party to handle administrative work through TRICARE Dental.
A subsidy through the Department of Defense (DoD)'s Child Care Fee Assistance Program for military families so they can better afford civilian childcare if they are placed on a waitlist for on-base services.
Additional childcare investments include:
Improving military child care centers that are in poor condition. 
A pilot program to reimburse servicemembers for child care costs due to a permanent change of station or assignment.
A study on compensation for child care providers at DoD facilities.
Access to childcare for military families has been one of the biggest issues that Congressman Kim has heard about from leadership and servicemembers living at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (JBMDL). 
An audit of TRICARE's behavioral health provider network directory to ensure accuracy, improve the referral process, and reduce wait times for access to civilian providers.
A five-year extension on the reimbursement authority for spouse relicensing (for teachers, real estate agents, etc.) costs after a permanent change of station.
An item of special interest accompanying the bill encouraging the Special Operations Forces, including Navy SEALs, to expand and improve 24/7 medical care during and immediately following training and candidate recruitment exercises.

Supporting Jobs and Small Businesses In New Jersey

A $5.4 million increase above the President's budget request for the refurbishment and upgrade of the SPY-1 Low Noise Amplifier (LNA) to improve the defense of Naval destroyers, protecting and sustaining dozens of good-paying jobs at the Lockheed Martin Moorestown facility. 
$197.5 million for the KC-46A Pegasus program, including at JBMDL, along with a provision to allow the NJ Guard and Air Force at JBMDL to fully transition their KC-135 mission to the new, higher-tech KC-46 aircraft.
Provides the full Presidential budget request funding level for the Columbia and Virginia-Class submarine programs, which will include two new Virginia-class submarines. These programs support at least nine small parts manufacturers in NJ-03, including DC Fabricators in Florence, Champion Fasteners in Lumberton, Garvey Precision Machine in Willingboro, and Sea Box in Cinnaminson among others.

Investing in America's Defense, Cyber Security, and Meeting Emerging Challenges

A provision to encourage DoD to use black-start exercises -- like the one conducted by JBMDL in 2020 -- to identify energy resilience and readiness gaps in the event of a power outage due to a cyberattack or natural disaster.
Directs the Secretaries of the Army, Navy, and Air Force to provide briefings to the House Armed Services Committee on all planned exercises for FY2023, including how they will assess bases' dependency on communications networks -- a key request following the JBMDL exercise.
Requiring the DoD to transition all of its non tactical vehicles from gas and diesel power to EV or zero emission vehicles by 2035.
A 17 percent increase over the President's request in funding for basic research, applied research, and advanced technology development, that will enable the DoD to invest in the breakthrough technologies. 
$44.1 million in increased support for CYBERCOM's defensive cyber operations. 
Requiring the DoD to create a five-year roadmap and implementation plan for the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) applications. 
$168 million for increased Cyber Mission Force operational support, including intelligence support for cyberspace operations.
A $50 million increase for AI systems and applications development at CYBERCOM. 
The creation of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Cyber Policy, elevating leadership on cyber policy within the DoD so it is at parity with other operational departments.
Establishes the Cyber and Digital Service Academy as a scholarship-for-service program that partners with universities and colleges to ensure a strong, diverse, and educated pipeline for cybersecurity talent in the United States who can address next-generation cybersecurity threats.

Additional Priorities

$25 million for the implementation of the Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Action Plan that will work towards preventing, mitigating, investigating, and responding to civilian harm in U.S. military operations. Funding will go to training and technological equipment specifically meant to reduce civilian harm.
Congressman Kim signed onto a letter to the House Appropriations Committee asking for full funding ($42 million) that would ensure adequate resourcing and staffing implementation for the civilian harm mitigation plan.
Congressman Kim is a co-chair of the Protection of Civilians in Conflict Zones caucus, which seeks to remedy the current trend of civilian harm, normally treated as an "unavoidable" consequence of conflict and the growing number of internally displaced people, refugees, and wounded or killed civilians.
$11.5 billion in investments to support the Pacific Deterrence Initiative to reinforce our support for America's allies in the Indo-Pacific region.
This includes $1 billion for previously unfunded projects that were identified by the Commander of INDOPACOM such as space capabilities and island basing.
Congressman Kim's bill to modernize foreign and civil service training for Americans who serve our country around the world in the Civil and Foreign Service. 

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