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WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-03), a Marine Corps combat veteran and ranking member of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Intelligence and Special Operations, voted today to advance the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024, which includes key provisions authored and championed by Rep. Gallego.
“I am proud to advance this year’s NDAA, which supports our troops here at home, stands up to Russia and China, and prepares our Armed Forces for potential future conflicts,” said Rep. Gallego. “The important bipartisan provisions I secured as part of this year’s NDAA, especially my work in the Intelligence and Special Operations Subcommittee, advance my top priority in Congress - keeping Arizona families safe.”
The provisions authored by Rep. Gallego and passed in the NDAA include:
- Baltic Security Initiative: Reauthorize the Baltic Security Initiative at $210 million, express the sense of Congress regarding the Baltic states, and require a report setting forth a strategy of the Department of Defense to deepen security cooperation with the Baltic states.
- China-Russia Defense Coordination: Amend the China Military Power report to require DoD to report on Chinese lessons learned from Russia.
- Fentanyl: Mandate a report on the role of DoD in supporting a national emergency declaration combating the fentanyl crisis and mandate a threat analysis of any potential threats the illicit fentanyl drug trade poses to the defense interests of the United States.
- Digital Marshall Plan 3.0: Require a briefing from DoD on the national security implications of deployment and expanded use of 5G within allied and partner nations in the Middle East.
- NATO and Semiconductors: Require a report on DoD's efforts to strengthen NATO's semiconductor supply chain resiliency.
- Taiwan: Express the Sense of Congress that the United States should continue to support the development of the capable, ready, and modern defense forces necessary for Taiwan to maintain a sufficient self-defense capability.
- Troop Presence in Korea: Express the Sense of Congress that the presence of 28,500 United States Armed Forces in South Korea serves as a strong deterrent against North Korean military aggression.
- Saudi-China-UAE Defense Relationship: Mandate a briefing on defense cooperation between Saudi Arabia and the PRC, and the role of the UAE.
- Korea-Japan Defense Cooperation: Mandate a briefing on DoD efforts to increase defense cooperation between Japan and South Korea.
- Europe-Asia Irregular Warfare Working Group: Require a briefing on EUCOM-INDOPACOM coordination on irregular warfare.
- US-Nordic SOF: Require a report on the viability of establishing a US-Nordic Special Operations Forces exchange with Finland, Norway, and Sweden.
- Irregular Warfare Center: Require the Secretary of Defense to select a permanent location for the McCain Irregular Warfare Center based on several criteria.
- Parent Fee Categories for DoD Childcare: Direct the Secretary of Defense to submit a report on the impact of changing the fee structure to a standard percent of total income for parental fees on revenue and on the quality, availability, and accessibility of childcare for families currently enrolled.
- Valley Fever: Require the Secretary of Defense to provide a report covering the impact of Coccidioidomycosis (Valley Fever) on the military.
- DPAA: Authorize $3M for identification programs within the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency and authorize the Defense Prisoner of War (POW) and Missing In Action (MIA) Accounting Agency (DPAA) to validate the remains of World War II veterans whose initial verification showed discrepancies.
- Congressional Notification: Require the President to notify Congress of any hostilities in which the US military is engaged within 48 hours after it occurs.
- Security Cooperation: Authorize the transfer of equipment in an extenuating circumstance and allow DoD to repurpose equipment for another country with Congressional approval.
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