Clermont Times

Washington, D.C. -  On July 14, Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-OH) voted in favor of the FY24 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which passed on the House floor.

“I am pleased to see the passage of this year’s NDAA, legislation that gives our brave servicemembers a pay increase, improved housing, and access to healthcare. This bill will ensure our warfighters have the equipment and resources they need to defend our nation and deter Chinese aggression,” said Rep. Wenstrup. “As a veteran of the Iraq War, I will always prioritize improving military readiness, meeting our servicemembers' needs, and increasing the lethality and effectiveness of our fighting force while opposing efforts to politicize the Armed Forces through controversial policies like diversity, equity, and inclusion or critical race theory.”

Background

Among other priorities, provisions within the bill:

• Support our servicemembers by providing a 5.2% increase in basic pay, extending recruitment and retention bonuses, and increasing the basic housing allowance.
• Fully fund the National Guard’s operation and supports border deployment
• Provide an additional $15 million above President Biden’s request to improve drug interdiction, including fentanyl shipments from China
• Provide an additional $25 million over President Biden’s request for National Guard to work with local law enforcement agencies to disrupt and degrade illicit drug production and trafficking
• Increase funding for essential military construction projects and innovative new technologies needed to deter the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)
• Protect our supply chain by requiring that the Department of Defense (DoD) ensure military fuel providers are not owned or infiltrated by the CCP or other adversaries
• Mandate an assessment of foreign control and influence over the supply chain for critical minerals and metals used for defense technologies
• Close loopholes so that the DoD cannot fund Confucius Institutes or contract with consulting firms that do business with the CCP
• Prohibit DoD from contracting with EcoHealth Alliance for any research supported by the CCP

Original source can be found here.