June 23, 2022

Gallego Votes to Support the FY2023 NDAA

WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-07), a Marine Corps combat veteran and Chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Intelligence and Special Operations, voted today to support the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023, which includes key provisions authored and championed by Rep. Gallego.

“Russia’s invasion of a sovereign country, increased pressure from China, and evolving threats and challenges globally underscore the need for the United States military to remain nimble and prepared to defend our country’s national security interests. This year’s NDAA sets the foundation for the priorities and resources required to accomplish this goal,” said Rep. Gallego. “The NDAA also makes necessary investments here at home with provisions to increase troop pay and improve healthcare coverage for service members and their families. As Chairman of the Intelligence and Special Operations Subcommittee, I am proud of the provisions in the NDAA that work to strengthen oversight of the military, such as efforts to promote SOCOM diversity and inclusion; increase our military’s biodefense and pandemic preparedness; and bolster our nation’s defenses against irregular warfare, especially for operations in the Indo-Pacific region. The NDAA reflects a yearlong bipartisan effort, and I am looking forward to passing these provisions into law.”

The NDAA provisions authored and championed by Rep. Gallego include:
 

  • Baltic Security Initiative: Reauthorizes the Baltic Security Initiative at $225 million, providing assistance with respect to air defense; maritime situational awareness; ammunition; Command, Control, Communications, Computers (C4) Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) (C4ISR); anti-tank capabilities; special forces; and other defense capabilities to ensure the security of the Baltic nations of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia, which are critical to the security of the NATO alliance.
     
  • Combating Civilian Casualties. Establishes a Commission on Civilian Harm and a DOD Center for Excellence in Civilian Harm Mitigation. Directs the Comptroller General to review DOD processes related to preventing, mitigating, investigating, and responding to civilian harm in military operations. Enhances requirements for the DOD Report on Civilian Casualties in Connection with United States Military Operations and extends a global ex-gratia authority that requires the United States to make payments for damage, personal injury, or death to a civilian that is inadvertently caused by the use of force by the U.S. Armed Forces.
     
  • Countering China-Russia Defense Cooperation: First-ever investigation into Russian and Chinese defense and misinformation coordination, specifically mandating the Secretary of Defense to report on (1) Russian-Chinese coordination in foreign and defense policy; (2) Chinese lessons learned from Russia regarding disinformation campaigns; and (3) Russian-Chinese collusion on influence operations.
     
  • New Reporting on Saudi Arabia and other Gulf States: Mandates the DOD Inspector General to submit quarterly reports on Operation Spartan Shield which oversees US posture, presence, and activities in the Gulf region, including in Saudi Arabia.
     
  • Promoting Basing Opportunities for Davis Monthan: Directs the Secretary of the Air Force to provide a briefing on the relative weight on the basing process attributed to characteristics unique to bases like Davis Monthan, including high average flying days per year, access to proximate training ranges and airspace, proximate aerial refueling capacity, existing installation and airfield infrastructure, and community support.
     
  • Addressing Food Security Crisis Caused by Russian War in Ukraine: Directs DOD to conduct an assessment of the current and potential threats caused by the global food security crisis brought on by the conflict in Ukraine.
     
  • Congressional Use of Force Notification: Requires the President to notify Congress of any hostilities in which the US military is engaged within 48 hours after it occurs.
     
  • Securing Allies’ and Partners’ Telecommunications Networks in South America: Expands Rep. Gallego’s Digital Marshall Plan to South America.
     
  • Strengthening U.S. and NATO cybersecurity: Requires DOD to provide a briefing on the Defense Security Cooperation Agency's programs to build cybersecurity capacity and strengthen cybersecurity institutions for NATO allies and partners in the face of Russian aggression.
     
  • Tribal Consultation and Liaisons: Requires the armed services to report on efforts to meet Tribal consultation requirements and encourages the utilization of tribal liaisons at military installations in order to uphold our trust and treaty obligations.
     
  • Strengthening Alliance with South Korea: Reaffirms the United States’ long-term commitment to the defense of the Republic of Korea and the combined defense posture under the US-ROK Mutual Defense Treaty, which is marking its 70th anniversary next year. Reiterates that the presence of 28,500 United States Armed Forces in South Korea serves as a strong deterrent against North Korean military aggression and as reassurance for our allies in the region.
     
  • Defending Taiwan: 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.

  • Encourage Use of Tribally-raised Bison Meat: Encourages the Secretary of Defense to identify opportunities to increase sustainable procurement of bison and other agricultural products produced by Indian Tribes and tribal organizations.

  • Readiness Assessment of Global Catastrophes and Risk: Directs the Secretary of Defense to submit a report assessing DOD readiness regarding global catastrophes and risk.

Intelligence and Special Operations Subcommittee-specific provisions:

  • SOCOM Diversity and Inclusion: Continues oversight of SOCOM diversity and inclusion by requiring a briefing on the implementation of the US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan, including how the Command has instituted best practices to strengthen diversity and inclusion into the organizational climate and culture.
     
  • Irregular Warfare Authority and Funding: Strengthens Irregular Warfare Authority by codifying the irregular warfare authority in section 1202 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115-91) and increases the amount available to support such operations to $25,000,000 and requires a briefing on the Department’s plans to expand irregular warfare operations to vetted allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region.
     
  • Information Environment Notification Requirements: Requires the Secretary of Defense to notify congressional committees of any clandestine information operations activity conducted within 48 hours of their occurrence.