Congressman Anthony Brindisi issued the following statement after the House of Representatives overrode President Trump’s veto of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). President Trump vetoed the NDAA last week over partisan concerns with social media companies and the renaming of military bases named after Confederate generals.
“Keeping our country safe is my top priority.” said Brindisi. “Pay raises for our troops and our national defense should not be dragged into a petty partisan fight. I joined Democrats and Republicans to override the President’s veto. This vote protects jobs in our area, bolsters our national security, funds the crucial work done at Rome Lab, and gives our troops a much-deserved pay raise.”
President Trump’s veto jeopardizes a 3% pay raise for troops, authorization of $25 million for crucial projects at Rome Lab, and additional services for Veterans and servicemembers.
Brindisi, a member of the powerful House Armed Services Committee, included key provisions and five of his bills in the NDAA.
A summary of key provisions, negotiated by Brindisi, is below:
· Authorized $25 million for three critical Quantum Innovation and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) projects at Rome Lab
· Secured additional funding and provisions to support cutting edge manufacturing projects and jobs at Lockheed Martin in the Southern Tier and AIS in Rome. The bill includes over $589 million for 5 new VH-92A Presidential helicopters, which will be partially built and outfitted by Lockheed Martin.
· Secured language seeking to protect Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) against workforce reductions by directing the Department of Defense to collaborate closely with Congress about any decisions that would affect DFAS workforce levels
· Co-sponsored a bipartisan amendment with Rep. Trent Kelly (MS-01) to ensure the Air Force cannot transfer any Air National Guard personnel or assets until it submits a plan for establishing a reserve component of the Space Force. This will protect the 222nd Command and Control Squadron in Rome and ensure they will continue to be a critical piece of our military’s space operations.
· Secured language requiring DoD to provide its acquisition timeline for additional High Energy Laser with Integrated Optical-dazzler and Surveillance (HELIOS) systems, which will defend American naval vessels against drones, small boats and cruise missiles. Parts of the system will be manufactured by Lockheed Martin in Owego, NY.
· Secured additional funding to support flexible hybrid electronics research at Binghamton University.
· Secured language requiring DoD to submit a report on the state of the domestic supply chain for critical and rare earth metals and the need for a national stockpile. Indium Corporation, an Upstate company, is a manufacturer and extractor of critical metals and aims to help the United States reduce its reliance on Chinese rare earth metals.
· Secured language requiring DoD to submit a report on the extent of mental health provider shortfalls in the military and a strategy to increase the number of mental health providers available to our servicemembers.
· Care and Readiness Enhancement (CARE) for Reservists Act, co-lead with Congressman John Katko (NY-24), Congressman Guy Reschenthaler (PA-14), and former Congressman Mark Meadows (NC-11): Allows members of the Guard and Reserve to access VA Vet Centers for mental health screening and counseling, employment assessments, education training, and other services to help them return to civilian life.
· Seeding Rural Resilience Act, co-lead with Congressman John Katko (NY-24): Addresses the suicide epidemic in rural farming communities by training USDA employees to recognize farmer mental health crises, establishing a national PSA on rural mental health, and developing best practices to address farmer mental health.
· Military Mental Health Stigma Reduction Act, co-lead with Congressman John Katko (NY-24): Requires DoD to submit report on its efforts to reduce the stigma of seeking mental health treatment for PTSD, suicidal thoughts, or other mental health conditions for servicemembers.
· Strengthening American Manufacturing Act, co-lead by Congressman David McKinley (WV-01): Requires DoD to report annually on its use of Domestic Non-Availability Determinations, which it uses to circumvent Buy American/Berry Amendment Requirements.
· South China Sea Freedom of Navigation Act, co-lead by Congressman Troy Balderson (OH-12), Congressman Bradley Byrne (AL-1), and Congressman Michael Waltz (FL-6): Updates the existing Freedom of Navigation Operations report to include U.S. overflight operations, and a description of each excessive Chinese territorial claim in order to highlight successes of the U.S. military contesting excessive Chinese claims and create an ongoing public record of China’s malign actions in the South China Sea.
