Rosen Announces Ndaa Conference Report, Which Passed House Yesterday, Includes Pay Increase for Military Personnel, Rosen's Amendment to Close Dangerous Ucmj Loophole

Press Release

Today, Congresswoman Jacky Rosen (NV-03), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, released the following statement after passage of the Fiscal Year 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Conference Report by a vote of 359 to 54.

"I'm glad to see the House and Senate work collaboratively to pass this bipartisan defense authorization bill," said Rosen. "This legislation gives our troops a pay raise they deserve, takes steps to improve our military's aviation safety, and includes my amendment to close a dangerous loophole and make domestic violence a crime under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. I will continue to fight to provide our Nevada military families and facilities with the resources they need to keep our country safe and secure."

BACKGROUND: The agreement authorizes $639 billion in base funding for national defense. In addition, the bill authorizes approximately $69 billion of Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) funds, zeroes out defense funding for Yucca Mountain waste repository, raises military pay by 2.6%, and increases funding for the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) nuclear weapons activities, which includes the Nevada National Security Site. Rosen sent a letter to House-Senate Conferees urging Members to zero out any defense authorization defense funding for the Yucca Mountain project. Other highlights include:

Establishes an independent National Commission on Military Aviation Safety: This provision establishes an independent National Commission on Military Aviation Safety in the wake of several devastating military aviation accidents, including the tragic loss of Thunderbirds pilot Major Stephen Del Bagno, whose F-16 crashed over the Nevada Test and Training Range earlier this spring. The Commission would be responsible for studying military aviation mishaps and making recommendations on required changes to training, maintenance, personnel, or other policies related to aviation safety.

Yucca Mountain Project Report on Impact to DOD/DOE Operations: Directs the Secretaries of Defense and Energy to submit a report to the congressional defense committees on the impact that the Yucca Mountain Project would have on DOD/DOE operations at the Nevada Test and Training Range, Nevada National Security Site, and any other defense facilities in proximity to Yucca Mountain or the proposed nuclear waste transportation routes.

Funding for the Department of Defense Cyber Scholarship Program: Reinvigorates DoD's Cyber Scholarship Program by $10 million which will benefit DoD's cyber workforce. U.S. Cyber Command and other DoD entities have testified before Congress of their inability to obtain the necessary workforce due to lack of competitiveness against industry and interest in DoD. Students receiving these funds owe DoD time post-graduation. Early age exposure to DoD and education of DoD's needs helps ensure our nation's cyber readiness.

Establishes Domestic Violence as a Crime Under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ): The amendment makes domestic violence a crime under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), as it is under federal civilian law. Rosen's amendment is based on bipartisan legislation she introduced with Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins (R-KS) in December 2017. The Military Domestic Violence Reporting Enhancement Act. (H.R. 4639) would prevent convicted domestic abusers from purchasing firearms by making domestic violence its own specific criminal offense, closing a dangerous loophole in the UCMJ. Currently, a domestic violence conviction is categorized as assault because an article for domestic violence does not exist in the military code.

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