WASHINGTON, DC– December 4, 2014 – Today, the House of Representatives passed the Fiscal Year 2015 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which authorizes funding and sets policy for the Department of Defense. The bill will now move to the Senate.

The FY15 NDAA contains over a dozen provisions authored by Massachusetts Third District Congresswoman Niki Tsongas, including significant provisions to support the critical missions at Massachusetts’ military installations and initiatives to provide life-saving resources to soldiers; combat sexual assault in the military; address the alarming rate of suicides by servicemembers and their family members; improve the Department of Defense’s ability to effectively address cyber threats, and more. (Please see below for specific provisions and amendments).

 

Congresswoman Tsongas released the following statement:

 

“Every year the Armed Services Committee produces a bipartisan bill to provide for our nation’s defense.  Passing this legislation before the end of the calendar year, which is vital, requires broad, bipartisan consensus about America’s national security goals, resources, and policies.  The final product, which passed in the House of Representatives today, represents a compromise between Republicans and Democrats and between the House and Senate.  While it is not perfect, given the significant national security challenges we face, this bill represents a commitment to our troops and provides our military with vital resources and authorities.  However, as with all bills of this size, there are pieces that I am not happy with and several aspects of this year’s NDAA give me significant concern and raise serious questions.

 

“Most concerning is the authorization to train and equip Syrian rebels in the fight against the terrorist group ISIL. I opposed a similar piece of legislation in September when it came before the House of Representatives as a standalone bill because Congress had yet to hold a comprehensive debate over what the President and military leaders have acknowledged will be a multi-year effort. There is no denying that ISIL is a lethal terrorist organization, but this authorization has the potential to lead to an expanded and open-ended commitment which could spill into future administrations.

 

“Both Republicans and Democrats have raised serious questions about the Administration’s strategy and the President has yet to be clear on important questions: what is the cost the American people will have to bear, what commitment of American servicemembers will be required, what is the timetable to achieve our objectives, what is the nature of the support we have from regional partners, what is the exit strategy, and how will we define success, to name a few.  We should not be making near-term decisions with long-term consequences without robustly debating the answers to these questions and fully considering the substantial and unpredictable risks of these actions. As Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Martin Dempsey has made clear, American ground troops being sent to Iraq in a combat role is not out of the question, which raises serious concerns over the slippery slope on which we may find ourselves. Fully answering the many remaining questions requires a larger discussion on the national stage and Congress must have an opportunity to fully debate the Administration’s overarching strategy. When given the opportunity to vote on this provision alone, I have been very clear in my position and my stance on this issue has not changed.

 

“While I remain opposed to the training and equipping of Syrian rebels because of my concerns with the lack of debate over our overarching strategy against ISIL, it has been my solemn responsibility to provide our servicemembers with the resources they need, and I would never deny them the tools they need to defend themselves, and our nation. With this in mind, I could not, in good conscience, vote down the entire FY 2015 National Defense Authorization Act. As the only Massachusetts Member on the House Armed Services Committee, I have come to realize the necessity of many of the programs that are funded each year in these comprehensive bills. Its passage is needed to provide our men and women in uniform with the health services they need, the pay raises and benefits they deserve, and the equipment required to protect themselves in the field.

 

“Furthermore, I also believe that we must reduce spending at the Department of Defense to help bring down our deficit, and I am certain we can do so without jeopardizing the safety and security of our nation.  However, this billdefers the difficult decisions needed to make those reductions, handcuffing our potential and immorally challenging our ability to train and equip our servicemembers with the best possible resources for safely and successfully carrying out their mission.

“I also oppose funding for new and permanent facilities at Guantanamo Bay and support measures to close the detention facility.

“Despite its shortcomings, the FY15 NDAA contains an abundance of provisions, several of which I was proud to author, that are necessary for the safety and success of our servicemembers. Military members and their families sacrifice so much in service to this country and we have a responsibility to do everything we can to protect and serve them.

“Massachusetts’ military installations are leading the way in partnering with area businesses and academic institutions to form a hub of innovation that has – and will continue to be – vital to national security. Massachusetts bases have played a major role in developing everything from cyber security programs, to next-generation body armor, to high-tech communications systems, to more nutritious meals for soldiers.  The provisions I authored will continue to encourage the high-tech innovation taking place at these installations and will protect and grow jobs at and around our bases.

“In regard to the disturbing prevalence of sexual assault in the military, I have worked closely with Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH) to continue developing legislation that works towards eradicating these heinous crimes from our ranks and changing the toxic culture that allows them to occur. Accountability begins at the top and must extend across the military, to every rank and position. Our FY15 NDAA language ensures military leaders, servicemembers and the military justice system are held to the highest standard.

“When it comes to addressing suicide and issues of mental health, information is critical, and the FY15 NDAA closes harmful gaps in the DOD’s data collection process. It is an opportunity to better understand the extent of suicides and suicide attempts for reserve and Guard servicemembers, along with their families, so that prevention programs can be improved and assistance can be provided.

“I appreciate that this bill brings together members on both sides of the aisle every year to fulfill our solemn obligation to our servicemembers. And I look forward to working with my colleagues from both parties going forward to address some of the deficiencies in this bill; in particular, the need for a national discussion to robustly debate America’s comprehensive plan to combat ISIL.”

The following is a list of some of the Tsongas-authored provisions included in the FY15 NDAA:

 

Massachusetts military installations

Reverses cuts to funding for Natick Soldier Systems Center’s Combat Feeding Directorate

·         Restores funding to the Combat Feeding Research and Engineering Directorate (CFRED) at Natick Soldier Systems Center after the program was slated for a 30 percent cut. The Directorate includes research, development, integration, testing, and engineering for combat rations, field food service equipment and complete combat feeding systems for the Department of Defense and interagency partners like NASA. Securing this funding preserves this critical mission at Natick, which includes over 100 jobs in Massachusetts.

New Hanscom Air Force Base Dormitory

·         Provides $13.5 million for construction of a new Hanscom dormitory for junior enlisted airmen, which will increase housing and provide modern, on-base accommodations;

STARBASE

·         Restores $25 million in funding for the Defense Department’s STARBASE Program, a nationwide program that provides STEM education to elementary school students.  The only STARBASE program in New England is located at Hanscom Air Force Base where students from Lowell, Lawrence and Fitchburg have all participated.

Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS)

·         Preserves funding for the Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS) recapitalization program, one of the most reliable surveillance systems in the world. The program was slated for a devastating 80 percent cut in the Senate Armed Services Committee bill, however, thanks to Congresswoman Tsongas’s persistent advocacy, the program will receive full funding this year enabling the team managing this program at Hanscom Air Force Base to begin work this year and avoid any delays.

Military Sexual Assault

The Furthering Accountability and Individual Rights within the Military Act of 2014(FAIR Military Act):

·         Limit the use of the “good soldier” defense, which allowed a defendant to cite unrelated, subjective factors during trial, such as military record;

·         Require commanders be assessed on their ability to create a climate where a victim can report a crime without fear of retaliation;

·         Require commanders and servicemembers be assessed on their support of sexual assault prevention and response policies;

·         Ensure that the changes and provisions regarding military sexual assault prevention from the FY14 Defense Authorization apply to the military service academies;

·         Ensure that an independent panel will look at how the mental health records of victims are admitted into evidence at trial and whether changes should be made to the military rules of evidence.  

Military Suicide

The Department of Defense (DOD) Suicide Tracking Act:

·         Requires the DOD to establish a standardized suicide tracking policy for the National Guard and Reserves;

·         Requires the establishment of a process to track, retain and assess suicide data for military family members;

·         This legislation was endorsed by the National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS), the National Military Family Association, and the Association of the United States Navy.

Cyber Security

DOD IT/Cyber Range Act

·         The Cyber Range legislation, included in the FY15 NDAA, will lead to efficiencies at the DOD, as well as increased collaboration between departments and across agencies;

·         The provision requires the DOD to make specific improvements to the way cyber range facilities are managed across the department. Cyber ranges are networks used by DOD military, civilian, and contractor personnel for cyber warfare training, and for research and development, which leads to significant technological breakthroughs in the cyber field.

·         Hanscom AFB’s C4ISR Enterprise Integration Facility (CEIF) is one of the DOD’s major cyber ranges and stands to benefit from the sharing and coordination laid out in this legislation, with the potential for the CEIF to be further used to coordinate interaction with other facilities.

 

Expanded Authorities to Hire our Nation’s Best and Brightest

·         This bill also gives more authority to the research facilities within DOD to recruit up-and-coming talented individuals, particularly students focused in advanced science, technology, engineering and mathematical (STEM) fields;

·         It also extends and nearly doubles the number of billets for a temporary hiring authority  allowing for rapid and flexible hiring of top-quality science, engineering, and technical personnel.

Congresswoman Tsongas also championed several other pieces of legislation that appear in the FY2015 NDAA, such as:

·         Providing increased funding for the manufacturing of modern body armor – this bill increases that funding by $80 million;

·         Providing increased funding for the EA-18G “Growler” air combat aircraft platform that jams enemy radars and other equipment to enable friendly fighter jets to carry out their attack missions safely.  Without additional funding for this platform, there was a substantial risk that the manufacturer, including several subcontractors in Massachusetts, would have to close the production line.

·         Prohibiting funds from being authorized or appropriated in the coming fiscal year to retire, prepare to retire, or place in storage any U-2 aircraft, a platform in high demand by our nation’s Combatant Commanders. U-2s provide unparalleled intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities to the armed forces and a critical component is manufactured here in the 3^rd District.;

·         Expresses Congress’s belief that women’s participation in society is crucial for Afghanistan’s national security.

 

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