Costa applauds Annual Defense Bill Signed into Law
WASHINGTON – Congressman Jim Costa (CA-16), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, applauds President Joseph R. Biden for signing H.R. 7776 - National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023. This bipartisan legislation will strengthen America’s national security, honor the heroism of American servicemembers and make critical investments in cutting-edge technology. Costa helped pass this legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.
"Our national security depends on critical investments to combat the rising threats here at home and abroad,” said Costa. “This year’s defense bill will bolster America’s national security, support our servicemembers, and promote our leadership on the world stage, as Putin's brutal war in Ukraine continues. With this bill, we will confront challenges facing our nation and continue to grow the best, strongest military in the world.”
Since 1961, the United States Congress has passed an annual defense bill to fund and strengthen the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). This bill allows the U.S. Armed Forces to pay, train, and equip U.S. servicemembers; support America’s allies around the world; and carry out essential national security operations.
With this year’s NDAA, Costa and House Democrats have advanced a range of key priorities, including:
Honoring America’s servicemembers and their families
Key pay increases for service members and their families, including a 4.6 percent pay raise for service members, funds for the DoD to increase the basic allowance for housing, an increase in the maximum allowable income to receive the Basic Needs Allowance and an additional $210 million for commissary funding.
Combats sexual harassment in the military by requiring independently-trained investigators – outside the immediate chain of command – to investigate sexual harassment, as well as placing cases under the jurisdiction of the Special Trial counsel.
Supports first responders by enacting the Federal Firefighters Fairness Act to ease firefighters’ access to workers’ compensation.
Strengthen our National Defense and Security
New investments in science and technology competitiveness for next-generation capabilities in hypersonics, electronic warfare, and artificial intelligence.
Invests in Counterterrorism and targets ISIS by continuing U.S. military support to our partners in Iraq and Syria to fight ISIS and other terrorists in surrounding areas.
Strengthens our Navy against China by investing $32.6 billion for Navy shipbuilding, an increase of $4.7 billion for the procurement of 11 battle force ships.
Accelerates innovation across science and technology by increasing funding for basic research, strengthening the pipeline for future innovation, and creating a new class of biomanufacturing capabilities and facilities.
Supports Key Global Alliances and Protecting Human Rights
Resources for U.S. allies and partners, including $800 million for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) and robust funding for the European Deterrence Initiative and Pacific Deterrence Initiative, to address Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.
Bolsters U.S.-Portuguese Relations by extending trade and investor visas to Portuguese citizens to increase international business between the United States and Portugal. Costa was instrumental in getting the AMIGOS Act in the defense bill.
Condemns the "September violations of the November 9, 2020 ceasefire agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan," and makes clear that the "use of force or threat of force" to pursue diplomatic objectives is "completely unacceptable."
Prohibits DoD procurement of any products mined, produced, or manufactured by forced labor from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China and prohibits the sale of goods produced by forced labor in military commissaries and exchanges.
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Congressman Jim Costa serves as a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Subcommittee on Europe, Energy, the Environment, and Cyber in the 117th Congress. As U.S. Co-Chairman of the Transatlantic Legislators' Dialogue, he focuses on issues related to national security and the transatlantic alliance.