Vice Chair Brown Celebrates Final Passage FY21 National Defense Authorization Act Promoting Diversity, Inclusion, Justice And Military Modernization

Press Release

Congressman Anthony G. Brown (MD-04), Vice Chair of the House Armed Services Committee and a 30-year Army veteran, joined a bipartisan Congressional super majority to override President Donald Trump's veto of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (H.R. 6395) The bill sets policy for the Department of Defense (DOD), and authorizes approximately $732 billion in discretionary spending for national defense, including approximately $69 billion of Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO).

In his rationale for vetoing the NDAA, which has passed for the last 60 years, President Trump cited Congressman Brown's provision redesignating military bases and Department of Defense property honoring leaders of the Confederacy. The final bill retains this provision.

"This year's National Defense Authorization Act is a significant milestone in our work to modernize our military and foster a defense community that reflects our country's diversity and strength. Despite President Trump's racial dog whistles with his defense of men who betrayed our country to defend the brutal institution of slavery, the people's representatives chose to deliver for our servicemembers, their families and for justice," said Vice Chair Brown. "We have more work ahead of us to keep our country safe and ensure all those wishing to serve our country in uniform can do so freely and with the same opportunities as every American. This NDAA is a victory and a proud moment for our country."

The FY21 NDAA includes 12 bills and 25 amendments proposed by Congressman Brown, and over $390 million in projects. The House voted 322-87 to override President Trump's veto. The Senate vote was 81-13.

A fact sheet on the National Defense Authorization Act is available here. A full list of policies passed by Congressman Brown can be found below.

Fostering Diversity and Inclusion Within the Ranks:

Twelve years after Rep. Meek, Rep. Cummings, Rep. Clyburn, and Rep. Johnson led the formation of the Military Leadership Diversity Commission, and nearly a decade after the Commission delivered their final recommendations, this legislation includes key, systemic changes introduced through the H.R.8099, the Diversity in Defense Act to ensure the full implementation of those findings, which:

Elevates the Chief Diversity Officer to report directly to the Secretary of Defense, as well as a Senior Advisor for diversity in each of the military services reporting directly to the secretary of that service.

Establishes a new Deputy Inspector General who would investigate the causes of underrepresentation of minorities within the officer corps and higher ranks of enlisted service members, the overrepresentation of service members of color in military justice proceedings, the Department of Defense's diversity and inclusion efforts and the extent of white supremacy within the military. The Deputy Inspector General reports to Congress on its findings and recommendations to address these longstanding and pervasive problems.

Requires the Secretary of Defense and secretaries of each branch of the Armed Services to set an objective of an officer and enlisted corps that reflects the eligible U.S. population.

Requires diversity and inclusion be a component of each National Defense Strategy.

Requires annual assessment by the Department of Defense to identify barriers to advancement, ensure accountability on meeting goals and initiatives aimed at promoting diversity and inclusion.

Requires that membership of selection boards represent the diversity of the Armed Forces.

Requires the establishment of a comprehensive mentoring program and career development framework which would provide measurable metric outcomes with the goal of increasing diversity in senior ranks and retaining the best and brightest in the military.

Requires the Chief Diversity Officer to create a strategic plan that spurs participation by HBCUs and MSIs in research, development, testing, and evaluation activities.

Requires the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretaries of the military departments, to develop a policy to ensure that the career of a servicemember is not unduly affected by pregnancy, childbirth, or a medical condition arising from pregnancy or childbirth.

Military Bases Honoring the Confederacy: a bipartisan provision based on H.R.7155 requiring the Department of Defense to remove names, symbols, displays, monuments, and paraphernalia commemorating leaders of the Confederacy. The language additionally establishes an independent commission to provide recommendations on the renaming process, assessing and listing commemorations of the Confederacy, and incorporating local sensitivities. The process for these actions should not exceed three years.

H.R.7125, The ELITE Act: which requires the Department of Defense to conduct a study through a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) on the barriers facing minorities from serving in certain elite units of the Armed Forces, including pilots and special operations. Only 5 percent of Army Green Beret, 2 percent of SEALS and only 0.6 percent of the Air Force's pararescue jumpers are Black.

H.R. 6661, The PROMOTES Act: which includes grants for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) instruction or activities within the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) programs. 68 percent of JROTC cadets do not have the opportunity to take an Advanced Placement (AP) computer science course in their school. Many of these schools are disproportionately located in low-income and minority communities.

H.R.6574, The PANORAMA Act: which mandates race, gender, ethnicity and other demographic metrics for academy nominations be collected and published on an annual basis. Women have never exceeded 27 percent of nominations made by Members of Congress. Nominations of minority candidates and those from marginalized communities continue to lag.

Includes language based on H.R.7198, The PIPELINE Act to diversify the SMART scholarship program and the national security workforce through partnership with Historically Black Colleges and Universities and other minority institutions.

H.R.7157, The FLIGHT Act: which provides new resources for Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and minority institutions, with special emphasis on support for flight training. Only 1.7% of Air Force pilots (and less than 3% of civilian pilots) are Black.

H.R.7156, The SERVICE Act: establishes a non-monetary award program to recognize Defense contractors who demonstrate excellence in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics activities, with a particular emphasis on communities of color.

H.R.7126, Department of Defense Anti-Semitism and Racism Awareness Act of 2020: Partially included in the FY2020 NDAA, this legislation explicitly requires the workplace and equal opportunity and workplace and gender relations surveys to include experiences with supremacist activity, extremist activity, anti-Semitism or racism. According to a Military Times poll, 53 percent of minority service members said they had seen examples of white nationalism or racism among their fellow troops.

Investment in Maryland's Military Installations:

$9.4M for a F--16 Mission Training Center at Joint Base Andrews: The new training center will be located near the Squadron Operations facility and the flight line in order to maximize training value and support efficient flight operations and aircrew training and management. The installation is scheduled to receive new mission training systems, and the base does not possess excess or suitable space to house the simulator devices and conduct supporting training and maintenance activities.

$13M for a Consolidated Communications Center at Joint Base Andrews: The new building will serve as a Consolidated Communications Center (CCC) for the Air Force's 89th and 744th Squadrons, supporting communications for the Air Force, White House, and other federal organizations.

$50M for the Bethesda Naval Hospital MEDCEN Addition/Alteration: The fourth and final increment for the Medical Center Addition/Alteration (MCAA), this project will construct a new addition for in-patient and out-patient medical care, renovate the existing hospital Buildings 9 and 10, and provide information systems.

$32.3M for Energy Resilience And Conservation Investment Program Projects (ERCIP): $13.8M for Naval Support Activity at Bethesda and $18.5M for Naval Support Activity at South Potomac was authorized for projects that save energy and water, reduce DoD's energy costs, improve energy resilience and security, and contribute mission assurance.

$250M to Recapitalize Building #3 at Fort Meade: This project will construct a command, control, communications, computers and intelligence (C4I) Operations facility. The project will provide office space, support space, equipment and communications space, maintenance spaces, limited storage space and include a parking facility for staff and visitors.

$39.5M for a Reserve Training Center at Camp Fretterd Reisterstown: This project will provide a new reserve training center, a combat vehicle maintenance shop, a wash rack, and supply shed.

Maryland Defense and Aerospace Industry:

Reforms to Public/Private Talent Exchanges: Amended existing statute on public private talent exchanges to ensure that individuals detailed to the Department of Defense cannot supervise federal employees or perform inherently governmental functions and that they are required to disclose their financial interests. Additionally, the Department was encouraged to utilize the revised program to expand access to expertise in artificial intelligence in private industry.

Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START): Establishes a research consortium of excellence for irregular warfare and advanced analytics within the office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering and authorizes $5 million in funding for these efforts in FY2021. START was previously a Department of Homeland Security Emeritus Center of Excellence, and is headquartered at the University of Maryland.

Strengthening Global Partnerships and Security:

The AFRICA Act of 2020: Requires the Secretary Defense to provide a report on activities and resources required to enhance security and economic partnerships between the United States and African countries, to include dual infrastructure projects, MILCON projects, training, and the State Partnership Program.

H.R.6089, The U.S.-Africa Strategic Security Act: l Requires the Department to submit a report within 30 days of reducing troop levels below 80% of the levels in the AFRICOM Area of Operation on the date of enactment. detailing the effects, implications, and cost of a troop reduction. In December 2019, Defense Secretary Esper announced the Pentagon is considering proposals for a major reduction of American forces on the African continent. Such a reduction could jeopardize U.S. partnerships in the region and create instability.

H.R.6146, The OVERSEA Act: This bill directs the Government Accountability Office to report on the U.S. Coast Guard's allocation of resources to support its defense readiness mission.

Foxhound Replacement Aircraft: On January 5, 2020, a Foxhound aircraft was lost in the Al-Shabaab attack on the Manda Bay airfield in Kenya. The bill authorizes $40.1 million to replace this Special Operations Command asset that provides quick reaction, multi-sensor airborne Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance.

Energy Resiliency and Climate Change:

Chesapeake Bay Watershed: The legislation provides a general increase of $25M to the Readiness Environmental Protection Integration Program, a critical Department of Defense effort that contributes to protecting the Chesapeake Bay watershed and encourages leveraging Federal-State partnerships like the Chesapeake Bay Program.

An amendment led by Rep. Beyer, Rep. Brown, and Rep. Schweikert to continue authorization for the Direct Air Capture and Blue Carbon Removal Technology Program.

Servicemembers and Military Families:

H.R.7382, Guard and Reserve Retirement Points during COVID-19 Pandemic Act: authorizing the Secretary of Defense to grant credit towards retirement for members of the Armed Forces reserve components who cannot complete minimum annual training requirements due to cancellation or other extenuating circumstance arising from the COVID--19 pandemic.

H.R.7712: Included an amendment on behalf of Rep. Jimmy Panetta which would prohibit the Secretary of Defense from eliminating or modifying programs of the National Defense University supporting Department of Defense innovation and entrepreneurial education opportunities.

An amendment, introduced by Rep. Brown and Sen. Van Hollen and cosponsored by Sen. Cardin and Majority Leader Hoyer to provide the family of slain ROTC Graduate Lt. Richard W. Collins III with the benefits they're owed following his death. Follows last year's action ensuring that future ROTC graduates who die between commissioning and their first assignment are treated as having served in the military for the purpose of death benefits.

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