OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

National Pulse Memorial

Floor Speech

Date: Dec. 7, 2021
Location: Washington, DC

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. GARAMENDI. Madam Speaker, the FY22 National Defense Authorization Act is a bipartisan project of enormous work both by members and staff. As always, I start by thanking Chairman Smith and Ranking Member Rogers and the House Committee on Armed Services' staff that worked long hours and many, many nights putting this year's NDAA together.

I also thank the Subcommittee on Readiness Ranking Member Lamborn, for his partnership on the subcommittee, as well as all the members of the subcommittee who contributed to the base bill or submitted amendments in the process.

In addition, I thank the committee's staff for their many hours of work in preparing this mark or this legislation. In particular, the staff of the Subcommittee on Readiness: Jeanine Womble, Ian Bennitt, Melanie Harris, David Sienicki, Jay Vallario, Wendell White, Whitney Verrett, and Naajidah Khan.

I am particularly proud of the many priority issues for the Subcommittee on Readiness that are reflected in this final bill.

Of note, this bill represents a continuation of the work to address the vulnerabilities of installations, as well as energy resiliency and response to climate change. We also are prioritizing efforts to address the contested logistics involving near-peer competitors.

This bill strengthens the operation energy program by requiring the Department of Defense to create a working group to enhance integration of military department energy initiatives into operational planning and platform development to combat the many challenges associated with contested and congested logistics.

It also represents a step forward in our work to ensure the safety of our military and civilian personnel is a top priority for the Department. The FY22 NDAA establishes the Joint Safety Council and requires the Department of Defense to develop a plan.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. GARAMENDI. The bill also takes important steps to improve the quality of family life dealing with housing and child development centers. Notably, $517 million in this bill for PFAS in an effort to increase transparency and provide information. Finally, the bill takes key steps to control the cost of expensive programs.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT


Source
arrow_upward