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Washington, DC -- Congressman Ron Klein (FL-22) released the following statement after the House passed the National Defense Authorization Act Conference Report. This bill authorizes $696.3 billion to improve services to wounded warriors and their families, strengthen troop readiness and take a step in the right direction for energy security.
"I was proud to cast this vote in honor of the thousands of men and women serving in the armed forces today," Klein said. "Provisions in this bill will make a tangible difference in the lives of our troops, providing for increased troop protection and making sure that the members of our military receive the right training before they are deployed and the right support when they return home.
"I am also proud that this bill that takes the issue of energy security seriously. This legislation authorizes the Secretary of Defense to purchase electricity from renewable energy sources. This is a huge step forward, considering that the Department of Defense is the largest single consumer of energy in the United States. The fact that the provider of our national defense is so reliant on instable sources of energy is a national security disaster just waiting to happen. Congress is helping to right that wrong."
Provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act Conference Report include:
- $1 billion for the Strategic Readiness Fund
- $980 million for National Guard equipment and requires rating and reporting of National Guard readiness for homeland defense missions
- Passage of the Wounded Warrior Resource Center to serve as a single point of contact for service members, their families and primary caregivers
- The requirement to publish detailed regulations for private security contractors mandating the appropriate use of force and accountability
- A 3.5% pay increase for servicemembers
- Federal pricing limits on the TRICARE retail pharmacy network
- $17.6 billion for MRAP vehicles
- $4.7 billion for the Joint IED Defeat Organization
- $1.2 billion for body armor
- $3.3 billion for up-armored humvees
- $1.2 billion for vehicle add-on armor
- $592.3 million for the Armored Security Vehicle (ASV)
- Regular reports highlighting progress in Iraq, projected force levels and planning
- The requirement for a comprehensive report outlining the strategic direction of U.S. activities in Afghanistan
- Several provisions aimed at strengthening energy efficiency and security, including $70 million for energy conservation projects
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