Press Releases

BACON APPLAUDS PASSAGE OF 2023 NDAA

Includes 12 Bacon Priorities

Washington, December 8, 2022

Washington, D.C. – Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) joined his House colleagues in voting for the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023. The bill passed by an overwhelming majority of 350 to 80. 

“Today, sound public policy won out over partisan politics with the House passage of the National Defense Authorization Act,” said Bacon. “For the 62nd consecutive year, Congress has prioritized our national security interests by modernizing our conventional and nuclear deterrence capabilities, supporting military families, and bolstering our ability to deter aggression and defeat threats from foreign adversaries. I applaud my colleagues in the House and Senate for their bipartisanship commitment to our national defense.”

“Rep. Bacon is a strong leader on the House Armed Services Committee and delivers results for our servicemembers and our national security. As threats from China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea continue to grow, the NDAA remains vital to our national security. I thank Rep. Bacon for his experience, advocacy, and diligence in crafting this important legislation that ensures the safety of all Americans,” said Ranking Member Mike Rogers (R-AL).

The 2023 NDAA: 

  • Authorizes $858 billion for national defense including significant investments in the defense workforce and critical technologies including artificial intelligence, space, autonomous systems, and hypersonic weapons.  
  • This funding level includes an increase of $45 billion above the original amount requested by President Biden which members of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees agreed was insufficient.
  • Fully funds modernization of the nuclear weapons enterprise to replace aging systems and reverse the dangerous decline in the effectiveness and reliability of America’s nuclear deterrent.
  • Authorizes a 4.6 percent pay increase, expands servicemember eligibility for a supplemental basic needs allowance, and improves access to childcare.
  • Authorizes an increase of more than $19 billion in additional payments to offset the impacts of inflation caused by President Biden’s spending policies.
  • Rescinds the COVID-19 vaccination mandate on all active and reserve component servicemembers and ends servicemember separations for failure to take the COVID-19 vaccine. 

The 2023 NDAA also includes the following additional legislative provisions championed by Rep. Bacon:

  • Authorizes an increase of $235 million in military construction to complete flood reconstruction at Offutt Air Force Base.
  • Authorizes an increase of $20 million for USSTRATCOM’s nuclear command, control, and communications (NC3) rapid engineering architecture collaboration hub (REACH) initiative at Offutt AFB.
  • Authorizes an increase of approximately $1 billion for procurement and modernization of four (4) EC-37B “Compass Call” electronic warfare replacement aircraft operated by the 55th Wing. 
  • Authorizes the no-cost land exchange of the Marine Reserve Training Center Omaha to Metro Community College.
  • Authorizes increases to maximum amounts for bonus and special duty pays across the Department of Defense; Rep Bacon’s provision increases the maximum aviation incentive pay to $1,500 monthly, and aviation bonus pay to $50,000 annually. 
  • Directs the Department of Defense to eliminate reliance on Russian energy at U.S. military installations in Europe.
  • Establishes the Warfighter Brain Health Initiative to standardize and align blast and traumatic brain injury policy and programs across the Department of Defense.
  • Directs the Air Force to establish a demonstration program to increase rated officer retention. 
  • Authorizes the Department of Defense to provide support to military service academy foundations. 
  • Directs the Department of Defense to provide a plan and estimated costs to expand the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps.
  • Directs the Secretary of Defense to issue standardized credentials to Department of Defense law enforcement officers at no cost.
  • Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to recommend to Congress policies to improve federal cyber incident response protocols. 

“Once again, this year’s national defense policy bill strengthens our country by safeguarding the security, freedom, and prosperity of all Americans,” added Bacon. “In addition to making America stronger, I’m particularly proud that it delivers results for the state of Nebraska, our local economy, and the great people of the second district.”

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