WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Mike Turner, Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee Strategic Forces Subcommittee, released the following statement after the FY22 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 316-113.
“In this year’s NDAA, I have worked to secure more than $120 million for new military construction at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Springfield-Beckley Airport, and other Ohio locations,” said Turner. “This bill will allocate $24 million to Wright-Patt for the construction of a new on-base Child Development Center. I strongly advocated for this project since the current child center is a failing, off-base facility with insufficient capacity. This new facility will have the capacity for more than 300 children and include force protection features and necessary spaces including classroom and play areas,” said Turner.
“With China undergoing an unprecedented and massive nuclear build-up and Russia undertaking significant modernization of all three legs of its triad, I have strongly advocated ensuring this bill fully funds programs that modernize the nation’s nuclear enterprise to ensure these two adversaries are properly deterred. I have also fought for provisions included in the bill to support service members, their families, and our community, hold the Administration accountable for its disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, strengthen our national security, and provide an unprecedented level of investment in emerging technologies needed for tomorrow’s fight. I am proud to vote in favor of this bill and I urge the Senate to swiftly continue consideration of this important legislation.”
FY 2022 NDAA Turner Highlights:
Military Construction Initiatives
- Wright Patterson Air Force Base – Child Development Center: $24 million.
- Wright Patterson Air Force Base – Army Reserve Center Training Building: $19 million.
- Wright Patterson Air Force Base – Human Performance Wing Laboratory: $40 million.
- Wright Patterson Air Force Base – Bionatronics Research Center Laboratory: $33.8 million.
- Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport – Base-Wide Microgrid: $4.7 million.
- Camp Perry, Ohio – Red Horse Logistics Complex: $7.8 million.
- Youngstown Air Reserve Station – Assault Strip Widening: $8.7 million.
Funding Authorization Initiatives
- $15 million for the Carbon Industrial Base.
- $5 million for Thermal Protection System Development.
- $8.7 million for Trustworthy Chip-Locking Microelectronics Security.
- $15 million for Defense Community Infrastructure Program.
- $6 million for Army Land Surveying Systems.
- $15 million for Metals Affordability Research.
- $5 million for the Mobile Compact High-Energy Laser.
Improving the United States Air Force Policy and Space Force
- Authorizes the divestiture of C-130 aircraft to facilitate the remission of the Ohio Air National Guard’s 179th Air Wing as a Cyber Wing.
- Requires an acquisition strategy for continued development, integration, and operational fielding of an advanced propulsion system into the U.S. Air Force fleet of F-35A aircraft.
- Establishes an annual review of F-35 sustainment efforts.
Improving Military Family Housing
- Requires command oversight of military privatized housing as an element of military performance evaluations.
- Directs an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Tenant’s Bill of Rights implementation for military family housing.
- Clarifies that window fall prevention requirements apply to all military family housing regardless of whether the housing is privatized or owned and operated by the Government and withholds certain funding until the Department assesses child safety issues in military family housing units.
Addressing Mental Health
- Directs a report on the expansion of the Health Professions Scholarship Program and the prioritization of retaining mental health providers.
- Directs a report evaluating the military’s suicide prevention efforts and the method of incorporating innovative technologies in identifying at-risk individuals to prevent the tragedy of suicide.
- Directs the awarding of grants to carry out collaborative research between the U.S. and Israel with respect to post-traumatic stress disorders.
Improving Sexual Assault Prevention and Response
- Establishes civilian positions to support Special Victims’ Counsel.
- Directs transitional compensation and benefits for the former spouse of a service member who allegedly committed a dependent-abuse offense during marriage.
- Created an independent military prosecutor to supervise complex, sex-related offenses and any offenses involving a minor victim.
Strengthening Foreign Policy
- Directs a report on the U.S. equipment, property, and classified material that was destroyed, surrendered or abandoned during the catastrophic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
- Supports Poland’s decision to purchase 250 U.S.-made Abrams tanks to increase modernization, lethality, and interoperability with NATO forces.
- Directs a report on Chinese and Russian chemical and biological weaponization efforts.
- Addresses directed energy attacks against U.S. personnel by integrating cross-agency efforts to address and mitigate these attacks and ensuring victims receive timely and comprehensive care.
- Directs a report on China’s military and security developments, including China’s composition, disposition, strength, involvement in Latin America, and expansion of the Belt and Road initiative.
- Requires a report on Russian influence operations and campaigns that target U.S. military alliances and partnerships. Prohibits the use of funds to implement any activity that recognizes the sovereignty of Russia over Crimea.
Full text of the bill can be found here.
###