WASHINGTON – Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX), Republican Leader of the House Appropriations Committee, released the following statement after voting in favor of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which authorizes funding for the Department of Defense and other national security programs. 

“Each year for over half a century, Congress has come together in bipartisan fashion to pass the National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA. The NDAA includes critical provisions such as a pay raise for servicemembers and policies to counter China and Russia,” said Congresswoman Kay Granger. “This bill stands up for civil liberties by prohibiting the Department of Defense from dishonorably discharging servicemembers who refuse the COVID-19 vaccine and requiring the establishment of consistent criteria to provide exemptions from the vaccine mandate. The NDAA also reaffirms North Texas’s critical role in our national defense through key investments in programs with a strong local presence such as the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, the V-22 Osprey aircraft, and Future Vertical Lift.

“My continued support for national security and for America’s brave warfighters will never waver. This bill is a wise investment to ensure American military superiority is never in question.”

 

FY22 NDAA Highlights

Support for Texas’ 12^th District

• Authorizes 9 additional V-22 Osprey aircraft
• Authorizes an additional $33 million for the Future Vertical Lift program
• Authorizes procurement of 85 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters

Servicemember Pay and Benefits

• Authorizes a 2.7% pay increase for servicemembers.
• Extends military recruitment and retention bonuses and special pay authorities
• Reverses President Biden’s cuts to the military health program, increases funding for vaccine research, and provides $35 million for research and treatment of the Havana syndrome that has affected our diplomats and intelligence officers overseas

Border Security

• Continues funding for the deployment of the National Guard to the border
• Reauthorizes authority for the Department of Defense (DOD) to support U.S. law enforcement counter-narcotics and counter-transnational crime efforts
• Requires an assessment of the impact on military readiness of forcing DOD to transport illegal immigrants

Servicemember Rights

• Preserves servicemembers’ free speech rights by protecting them from being punished for political statements on social media accounts
• Prohibits a dishonorable discharge for servicemembers who refuse a COVID-19 vaccination
• Requires the establishment of uniform standards to receive an exemption from the vaccine mandate for administrative, medical, or religious reasons

Countering China and Russia’s Malign Influence

• Reaffirms U.S. commitment to the defense of allies in the Indo-Pacific region
• Authorizes over $7 billion for the Pacific Deterrence Initiative
• Fully funds the European Deterrence Initiative
• Includes $300 million in security assistance and intelligence support to Ukraine, including not less than $75 million in lethal assistance