Congresswoman Jacobs Legislative Wins and Priorities as NDAA Markup Begins
Jacobs will oppose Rogers Amendment to increase topline budget number by $25 billion
This morning, the House Armed Services Committee will begin markup of H.R. 4350 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022.
Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (D-CA-53) - a member of the Military Personnel Subcommittee and the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee - partnered with her colleagues on a number of key provisions which have been included in the initial base text of H.R. 4350, (full text here) including measures to improve child care access for military families, military housing, and Global Fragility Act Implementation.
Congresswoman Jacobs has also worked with Congressman Jimmy Panetta to create a basic needs allowance to support low-income servicemembers who are currently not eligible for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and with Congresswoman Jackie Speier to remove sexual assault cases from the chain of command. These important measures have also been included in the base text.
Congresswoman Jacobs will oppose the Rogers Amendment to increase the topline budget number in H.R. 4350 by $25 billion.
NDAA Base Text Legislative Wins Secured by Congresswoman Jacobs and Colleagues:
- Amendment to Provide Income to Low-Income Service Members: Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to pay a basic needs allowance to qualified service members.
- Amendment to Improve Child Development Centers: Requires the military departments to conduct safety inspections at Department of Defense Child Development Centers and develop 10-year facility improvement plans for these centers.
- Amendment on Child Care Best Practices: Directs the Secretary of Defense to submit to Congress on the Pentagon’s efforts nationwide and across the military services to expand community relationships and partnerships with community-based childcare providers.
- Amendment to Improve Global Fragility Act Implementation: Directs the Secretary of Defense to brief Congress on the progress of implementing the Global Fragility Act.
- Amendment to Accommodate Tenants with Disabilities in Military Housing: Requires landlords to modify their housing units to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
- Amendment to Provide Civilian Support for the Special Victims’ Counsel: Allows each Secretary of a military department to establish civilian support positions within each office of the Special Victims’ Counsel.
- Amendment on Conditions of Unaccompanied Personnel Housing: Directs the Secretaries of the Air Force, Navy, and Army to submit a report to Congress on the conditions of unaccompanied personnel housing facilities.
- Amendment to Promote Defense Educational Partnerships: Directs the president of the Defense Acquisition University (DAU) to create a program to partner with outside entities to improve DAU curriculum and ensure training on operational challenges.
- Amendment on Landing Gear System Oversight: Directs the Secretary of the Air Force to brief Congress on the Air Force’s efforts to reduce landing gear related mishaps.
- Amendment on Naval Audit Service Oversight: Prohibits changes to the size or function of the Naval Audit Service until the Comptroller General of the United States completes a report on the operations of the Naval Audit Service.
- Amendment to Report on National Guard Apportionment: Directs the Pentagon to submit a report on all of the factors that go into sending the National Guard to a given state.