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Costa Celebrates Full Passage of NDAA, Which Gives Pay Raise to Service Members and Honors Special Guerilla Unit Veterans

December 15, 2021

WASHINGTON – Congressman Jim Costa (CA-16) released the following statement after Senate passage of the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), legislation that provides a pay raise for service members, ensures protections for victims of sexual assault, and works to counter extremism in the military. The 2022 NDAA passed the House for a second time last week and now heads to President Biden's desk to be signed into law. The bill also includes a bipartisan amendment led by Rep. Costa that expands eligibility for interment in national cemeteries to all members of the Special Guerilla Units who fought in support of the United States during the Vietnam War. 

"This bill invests in our ongoing commitments to our military, and in the livelihoods of those who serve and defend our freedoms, from increasing pay to making historic efforts to promote diversity in the ranks." said Rep. Costa "This bill also appropriately honors SGU veterans who fought alongside American soldiers in the Vietnam War."

The NDAA includes historic policy changes that benefit service members and their families while continuing to support the military's challenges at home and abroad. Specifically, the legislation:

  • Makes historic changes to the military justice system to combat sexual assault in the service
  • Authorizes a 2.7 percent pay increase for those currently serving
  • Authorizes record funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities
  • Takes steps to ensure diversity and inclusivity
  • Authorizes 2 weeks of paid parental bereavement leave for all federal employees 
  • Investments to make the Department of Defense more climate-resilient

The bill also includes:

Rep. Costa's  H.R. 2969, the Special Guerrilla Unit Veterans Service Recognition Expansion Act., which extends benefits provided in the Hmong Veterans' Service Recognition Act, which grants burial rights to Special Guerilla Unit veterans who fought alongside American soldiers, and who became naturalized citizens after 2000.

During the Vietnam War, the CIA covertly trained men and women in Laos to support U.S. forces. As refugees following the war, thousands of these soldiers and their families resettled across the United States and in California's San Joaquin Valley. Costa's legislation gives burial rights in national cemeteries to all Special Guerilla Unit Veterans who fought in the war.

"Our SGU Veterans who served in the ‘Secret War in Laos' during the Vietnam War can finally be at peace knowing that all the sacrifices they made will not go in vain but most importantly, they will not be forgotten," said Bee Vang, Director of the Lao Veterans of America Institute in Fresno. "This bill was long overdue but never too late.  History is made today, and it is a great day because our SGU Veterans can finally receive the national recognition and honor they deserve."

"It is an honor that our veterans will finally receive full burial rights so they can choose to be buried in national cemeteries," said Cher Vang, Vice President of the SGU Veterans Fresno Chapter. "This is a well-deserved recognition that has been long overdue. Although many of these brave veterans are no longer with us, this is still a great opportunity to pay tribute to those who are."


For a full summary of the FY 2022 NDAA, go here.