Washington, DC – Today Congresswoman Dina Titus (NV-01) issued the following statement after voting to pass the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023, legislation that makes key investments to improve the lives of service members and military families while also strengthening our national security and diplomatic priorities. This was passed along with the Water Resources Development Act of 2022.

“Today I voted to pass the National Defense Authorization Act which reflects my belief that service men and women and their families who make sacrifices every day are the heart of our nation’s defense,” said Rep. Titus.

“I am pleased that this Defense Authorization includes several important priorities I have championed, including my bills to make air travel easier for non-English speakers and to expand access to mental health resources for survivors of natural disasters.

“The NDAA passed in tandem with the Water Resources Development Act of 2022 which will invest in key water resources infrastructure in Nevada. I am proud to have led the effort to fund programs that will address problems facing the West, including clarity in Lake Tahoe, flood control, and drought resistance.”

Background

Rep. Titus Championed the Following Provisions:

• TRANSLATE Act (H.R. 5574):  Makes air travel easier for non-English speakers, international travelers, and people with vision or hearing impairments by requiring the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to develop a plan to improve airport communications.
• Post-Disaster Mental Health Response Act (H.R. 5703): Ensures communities that do not meet the physical or monetary requirements for a Major Disaster can still receive mental health support following a significant emergency event. Congresswoman Titus introduced this bill along with Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA).
• Cybersecurity Grants for Schools Act (H.R. 6868): Increases and sustains funding for K-12 cybersecurity education and workforce development to help students develop skills needed for cybersecurity careers. Congresswoman Titus introduced this bill along with Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY).
• Small State and Rural Rescue Act (H.R. 7211): Ensures equitable access to federal aid for small states and rural communities impacted by flooding and other disasters. Congresswoman Titus introduced this bill alongside Rep. John Katko (R-NY).
• Global Catastrophic Risk Management Act of 2022 (H.R. 8574): Establishes an interagency committee for risk assessment that would report on the adequacy of continuity of operations (COOP) and continuity of government (COG) plans for large scale risks including new strains of diseases, biotechnology accidents, or lethal naturally occurring risks regardless of their likelihood. Congresswoman Titus introduced this bill with Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX).
• Preventing Servicemember Exposure to Toxic Chemicals through Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) Substitutes: Requires a report from the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment on the prevalence of PFAS contamination from non-AFFF sources on military installations.
• Report on Weaponry Support for Ukraine: Requires quarterly briefings for Congressional defense committees on Department of Defense efforts to support replenishment and revitalization of stocks of defensive and offensive weaponry provided to Ukraine by the United States.

This legislation also includes several important priorities including:

Military Personnel

• Pay Raise: Authorizes a 4.6 percent pay increase for military servicemembers and the Defense civilian workforce.
• Health Care: Establishes a comprehensive initiative for cognitive health to improve cognitive skill performance among servicemembers. Authorizes transitional health care benefits to members of the National Guard who are separated from full-time duty or mobilized for more than 30 days in response to a national emergency declaration and supported by Federal funds.
• Decrease Cost of Living: Funding to adjust for inflation and offset costs of acquisition as well as necessities like food and housing for servicemembers.
• Housing: Ensures servicemembers have access to quality housing by extending the authority to adjust the basic allowance for housing in high-cost areas.
• Childcare and Education: Initiates a pilot program to reimburse military families for certain childcare costs related to a permanent change of station. Requires a pilot program to hire special education inclusion coordinators at Child Development Centers (CDC) with a high population of military children enrolled in the Exceptional Family Member Program and also at the CDCs.
• Dependents: Authorizes a servicemember whose sole dependent dies to continue to receive a basic allowance for housing at the "with dependents" rate up to 365 days after the dependent's death.

Turkey

• Language that states North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies should not conduct unauthorized territorial overflights of another NATO ally’s airspace.

Ukraine

• Authorizes the full fiscal year 2023 budget request for the European Deterrence Initiative (EDI).
• Extends and modifies the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) and authorizes $800 million in fiscal year 2023, an increase of $500 million above the President’s budget request.
• Requires a report on the framework the Inspectors General adopted to oversee U.S. assistance to Ukraine and whether there are any gaps in oversight or funding for such activities.

Taiwan

• Authorizes the Taiwan Enhanced Resilience Act of 2022, including various provisions designed to increase security cooperation with Taiwan consistent with the Taiwan Relations Act.

Israel

• Authorizes funding for the Iron Dome short-range rocket defense system, David's Sling Weapon System, and Arrow 3 Upper Tier Interceptor Program as outlined under a Memorandum of Agreement between the United States and the Government of Israel.

Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS):

• Authorizes additional funding to reduce risk in the Army Future Vertical Lift program.
• Directs an assessment and strategy for fielding capabilities to counter threats posed by unmanned aerial swarms as well as a briefing on security cooperation activities related to counter UAS.

The Water Resources Development Act of 2022 includes four key provisions championed by Congresswoman Titus to preserve the Lake Tahoe ecosystem and provide communities with resources to address water-related challenges including drought:

• Invasive Species in Alpine Lakes Pilot Program: Includes a 4-year extension of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Invasive Species in Alpine Lakes Pilot Program. This pilot program would develop and carry out effective measures for preventing, controlling, and eradicating aquatic invasive species in alpine lakes outside of the National Park System.
• The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Technical Assistance: The USACE helps communities develop flood control solutions through multiple technical assistance programs including Planning Assistance to States (PAS) (42 USC 1962d-16). Given the growing threats we face from water-related challenges like flooding, drought, and coastal storm risks, today’s bill makes USACE technical assistance easier for states and local communities to access. Rep. Titus also secured language that would allow USACE to work with institutions of higher education to provide technical assistance for Flood Plain Management Services.
• Lake Tahoe: Increases authorization for the Tahoe 108 Program by $25 million. The program has helped fund the planning, design, and construction of many environmental improvement projects that have been instrumental in the Tahoe Basin's progress toward its regional environmental restoration goals.
• Rural Western Water: Increases by $365 million the authorization for the Section 595 Rural Western Water Program which has funded and continues to fund water and wastewater improvement projects around rural Clark County including for combined sewer overflow, water supply, storage, treatment, environmental restoration, and surface water resource protection.

Read the full NDAA for Fiscal Year 2023 here.

Read the full WRDA of 2022 here.

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