National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024

Floor Speech

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Mr. GARAMENDI. Mr. Chair, I rise today to highlight the extraordinary work done by the Readiness Subcommittee, with support from Chairman Waltz and bipartisan support through the Subcommittee, despite efforts to compromise the integrity of this bill.

As the Ranking Member of the Readiness Subcommittee, it is my responsibility to provide congressional oversight of and support to the sustainment, logistics, infrastructure, and readiness of our military. I'd like to take a moment and thank my staff for their tireless work-- the Readiness Subcommittee staff and my personal staff, Robert Hurd, Iain Hart, and Taylor Brunstad. I am proud of the Readiness Subcommittee's contribution and efforts to support our military.

I firmly believe in the mission of our military and support the men, women, and families that sacrifice so much. However, I cannot in good faith support a bill that undermines access to reproductive care; eliminates efforts to address systemic racism; and blocks medical care and support for transgender servicemembers and their dependents. We owe it to our servicemembers to protect their rights while they are sacrificing to protect our freedom.

I do, however want to acknowledge the critical work we were able to accomplish in the original bill that passed through the House Armed Services Committee:

Support Mare Island with a provision that authorizes the Secretary of Defense to conduct a study on dredging Mare Island Straight in front of finger piers 2 and 3 to a depth of 30 feet to restore the usability of the piers for commercial shipbuilding in the future.

Conduct a study on the efforts required to recapitalize Mare Island Naval Shipyard to support domestic shipbuilding.

Provide new federal loans and loan guarantees for repairs and retrofits of U.S.-flag civilian vessels in domestic commercial shipyards, like Mare Island Dry Dock.

Combat price gouging and close the loopholes giant defense contractors are utilizing to price gouge the Pentagon and American taxpayers.

Authorize the FireGuard program, crucial to fighting wildfires in California and nationwide.

Provide a report on the feasibility of using CH-47 helicopters for fighting wildfires.

Continue to fight nuclear proliferation by requiring the development of an integrated master schedule for nuclear warhead development.

Make improvements relating to civilian access to U.S. military installations. This helps workers, veterans, and others who need to get on base for their jobs, livelihood, or medical care in military communities like Travis Air Force Base in Solano County.

Modernize the Military's List of Medically Disqualifying Conditions for military service to ensure enlistees are not needlessly disqualified from serving or continuing to serve in the military. The current list of medically disqualifying conditions was designed when female enlistees were far less common, therefore many female enlistees are unnecessarily disqualified from enlisting due to normal conditions of their gender. This would also allow for the review of conditions like ADD/ADHD, previous mental health treatment and support, and other conditions that frequently receive a waiver.

Increase funding for environmental clean-up at former military installation sites to $50 million dollars.

Require DOD to establish policy and process to identify and report encroachment related risks near military bases and installations, and to understand ways to mitigate associated risks.

Authorize continued funding for bio-industrial manufacturing infrastructure. This would establish a network of facilities that would support defense needs and assist in scaling commercial capacity so that the U.S. can compete with China, create new jobs, and us on robust agricultural feedstock.

Extend the deadline for the completion of the conveyance of a parcel of property at Sharpe Army Depot, Lathrop, California to 2026.

Increase funding for research and development for energy efficient aircraft development.

Continue to push the DOD on the sustainment and readiness of ships and aircraft via yearly reports from the GAO.

Utilize the lessons learned in the response to COVID-19 through ``Operation WARP SPEED'' to develop plans and operations for response to future pandemics or emergencies.

Support the American maritime industry by requiring reports on the preference afforded by domestic ports to U.S. military, commercial vessels enrolled in the Maritime Administration's (MARAD) strategic sealift programs, and other U.S.-flagged vessels, if any.

Demand responsible spending and furthering nuclear nonproliferation through studies on Plutonium Pit Aging.

It is unconscionable that the bipartisan bill advanced out of the House Armed Services Committee is being subjected to amendments that detract from its original mission to support our service members and keep American families safe. Regardless of the final outcome of this year's NDAA, I am pleased to have worked in a bipartisan manner to advance legislation out of the House Armed Services Committee that addresses the critical issues facing our military families and furthers America's national security interests.

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