Gallego Secures Wins for Arizona in the Annual Defense Bill
WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-03), Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Intelligence and Special Operations, secured wins for Arizona in the final language of this year’s defense policy bill, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24 NDAA).
As a member of the bicameral conference committee negotiating the final version of the bill, Rep. Gallego worked directly with leadership of both parties to provide for military families and keep the American people safe. The FY24 NDAA earned widespread, bipartisan support in the House of Representatives, with a majority of both parties voting to pass it.
“As a leader on the House Armed Services Committee, my mission is to enhances our national security, support Arizona service members and their families, and fight for Arizona-first priorities,” said Rep. Gallego. “I’m proud that, through our bipartisan, bicameral negotiations, we were able to secure a 5.2 percent pay raise for our troops, reaffirm our commitments to our allies and partners, strengthen our ability to meet future challenges from our adversaries and competitors, and deliver for Arizonans.”
Arizona Wins in the FY 2024 NDAA
Fentanyl Crisis
- Mandates a report on the role of the Department of Defense (DoD) in supporting a national emergency declaration combating the fentanyl.
- Mandates a threat analysis of any potential threats the illicit fentanyl drug trade poses to the defense interests of the United States.
Goldwater Range
- Extends continued Air Force use of the Barry M. Goldwater Range in the Sonoran Desert.
Valley Fever
- Requires a report covering the impact of Coccidioidomycosis (Valley Fever) on the Armed Forces.
Nogales Wastewater Improvement
- Authorizes the transfer of ownership of the International Outfall Interceptor (IOI) to the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) for much-needed infrastructure repairs, future operations and maintenance when funds are appropriated.
Over-Time Pay for Border Patrol Agents
- Provides special overtime pay for Border Patrol Agents at GS-12 level.
Military Construction in Arizona
- Authorizes $8.9 million in funding for the Marine Corps Air Station Yuma Water Treatment Plant.
- Authorizes $2.7 million in funding for the Luke Air Force Base Child Development Center.
- Authorizes $2.6 million in funding for Gila Bend.
- Authorizes $15 million in funding for the Surprise National Guard Readiness Center.
- Authorizes $17 million in funding for Army Reserve San Tan Valley Area Maintenance Support Activity.
- Authorizes $11.6 million in funding for Air National Guard Military Construction Cooperative Agreements: Aircraft Arresting System.
Authorizes $8.5 million in funding for Guardian Angel Preservation of the Force and Family Facility.
Other Wins Secured by Rep. Gallego
Baltic Security Initiative
- Requires a report on the progress made in implementing a DoD strategy to deepen security cooperation with the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
NATO and Semiconductors
- Requires a report on DoD's efforts to strengthen the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) semiconductor supply chain resiliency.
Digital Marshall Plan 3.0
- Requires 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
Strengthening U.S. and Allied Defense Cooperation
- Expresses 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.
- Reinforces the United States’ alliance with South Korea, including the presence of 28,500 United States Armed Forces deployed to the country.
- Mandates a briefing on DoD efforts to increase defense cooperation between Japan and South Korea.
- Requires a report on the viability of establishing a US-Nordic Special Operations Forces exchange with Finland, Norway, and Sweden.
Countering Adversary/Competitor Defense Coordination
- Calls for future DoD reports focused on the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to investigate connections between China, Russia, and Iran.
Mandates a briefing on defense cooperation between Saudi Arabia and the PRC, and the role of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).