Early this morning, the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023, and Congressman Blake Moore fought to successfully include many sponsored provisions in the passed legislation.
“During a time of economic uncertainty and global geopolitical instability, the House Armed Services Committee carefully put together a defense authorization bill that will improve our defense systems and the lives of our servicemembers,” said Congressman Blake Moore. “For the second year, I joined my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to oppose the Biden Administration’s consequential defense cuts and put forth a budget that serves the needs of both the warfighter and military families. I advocated for this package to benefit Utah’s defense community and pushed for a modernization strategy at Hill Air Force Base, improvements to the Utah Test and Training Range, funding for Utah’s Ground Based Strategic Deterrent, and more. This bill addresses the economic hardships of lower-enlisted personnel by providing an inflationary bonus, additional housing allowances, and funding to reduce food costs at military commissaries at Hill Air Force Base and at bases across the country. Most importantly, this authorization provides the resources needed to continue deterring Russian aggression, combatting Chinese provocation, and maintaining America’s position as the most powerful force on the global stage. It is an honor serving on the most bipartisan committee in Congress, and I’m eager to further refine this bill through the legislative process.”
“Rep. Blake Moore has worked tirelessly to make sure the FY23 NDAA strengthens our military and provides for our servicemembers,” said HASC Ranking Member Mike Rogers (R-AL). “I thank Rep. Moore for his continued leadership on the House Armed Services Committee.”
Many of Congressman Moore’s sponsored provisions were included in the NDAA including, but not limited to, the following:
- Hill Air Force Base modernization: Provides a strategy for replacing the 1200 series facilities at Hill Air Force Base. Sixty-six of the buildings at Hill Air Force Base (HAFB) were constructed over 80 years ago, and HAFB’s expanded administrative functions and personnel no longer fit in these facilities.
- Utah Test and Training Range improvements: Supports efforts to field threat emitter capabilities to help the Utah Test and Training Range reach its full potential as the largest overland restricted airspace in the United States. Adjacent to HAFB, threat emitters are necessary to help 5th generation F-35 pilots train as they fight.
- Ground Based Strategic Deterrent “Sentinel” Program: Fully funds the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent to avoid harmful delays to nuclear modernization and provides HAFB the ability to maintain a safe, secure, and effective nuclear deterrent. This program is expected to bring as many as 4,000 new jobs and six new buildings to Utah’s defense community.
- Housing for airmen: Directs the Air Force to address the inadequate quality and capacity of barracks across the country. Due to aging infrastructure and rising costs, housing for many military personnel remains a challenge and hurts morale, retention, and quality of life.
- Small business competitiveness: Requires the Department of Defense to improve and better utilize American small businesses in the defense industrial base. Harnessing the creativity and talents of small business owners in science, aerospace, and defense is central to leading the world in emerging technologies.
- Microelectronics supply chain: Directs the Department of Defense to coordinate with other government microelectronics manufacturing initiatives to increase the resiliency and integrity of our supply chains and enhance our industrial defense capacity. Decreased reliance on foreign nations will reshore our manufacturing jobs, maintain national security, and enhance the warfighter.
- Care for military children with special needs: Utilizes the Autism Care Demonstration Program and further supports military children with special needs by removing unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles to receiving accessible and affordable care.