Rep. Brown Applauds House Passage of the FY23 National Defense Authorization Act

WASHINGTON — Today, Representative Shontel M. Brown (OH-11) issued the following statement after the House passed the bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for FY23.

The House-passed NDAA includes a pay raise for service members, significant improvements to our country's research and workforce programs, and investments in new partnerships with the private sector and academia, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs). Rep. Brown secured two amendments in the bill: her flag amendment requiring the Department of Defense to acquire American-made national flags and another amendment to explore the presence of mental and physical comorbidities among active-duty service members. Rep. Brown shared the following statement:

"I am thrilled that Congress has come together to pass this year's NDAA. We must take care of those willing to give their lives for our safety and freedom," said Rep Brown. "The NDAA embodies our commitment to strengthening national security by setting our military up for success and empowering a Defense Department that will strengthen protections for civilians. Most notably, this bill will prepare the next generation of service members by investing in workforce and research programs. Lastly, the NDAA will ensure that we provide our service members with the mental and physical support they need. America's national security transcends partisan politics, especially when there is so much at stake." 

Background on Rep. Brown's Amendments:

American Flag Amendment: Requires the Department of Defense to acquire American flags made here in the United States with American materials.

Comorbidities Among Active-Duty Service Members: Requires the Secretary of Defense to submit to Congress the simultaneous presence of various mental health conditions and metabolic diseases among members of the Armed Forces service on Active Duty. 

Other key provisions in the House-passed NDAA:

• Supporting working families by providing a 4.6% pay raise for servicemembers and civilians;

• Securing a $15 minimum wage for workers on federal service and construction contracts;

• Authorizing more than $111 million in funding for research activities at HBCUs – empowering them to carry out research and development work in support of national security efforts;

• $1 billion for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), to provide much-needed support and assistance to the Ukrainian Armed Forces as they seek to defend their homeland from Russian aggression;

• Defending a woman's reproductive rights by eliminating TRICARE copays for contraception for one year and increasing access to infertility services;

• Renewing our commitment to military families by increasing oversight of privatized military housing; and

• Authorizing $30 million for the Small Shipyard Grant program, which provides valuable funding for local shipyards here in Ohio and authorizes an additional $30 million for domestic maritime workforce training and education programs to prepare the next generation of maritime workers to meet the employment needs of these important economic drivers.

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