12/4/14

Today, Congressman Doug Lamborn joined a strong House majority in supporting the passage of the 2015 National Defense Authorization Act by a bipartisan vote of 300 to 119. As a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, Congressman Lamborn played a key role in crafting the legislation and the final bill features numerous examples of his input:

Lamborn Influence on the FY2015 NDAA

·         Incorporates language originally authored by Rep. Lamborn regarding C-130 aircraft and the 302^nd/52^nd airlift wing at Peterson requiring a certification from the Secretary of the Air Force that the MAFFS mission will not be negatively impacted before any aircraft can be removed (Secs. 138 & 140).

·         Incorporates language calling for an analysis of a new Joint DOD-VA Clinic in Northern El Paso County. As our military and veterans populations continue to grow, military medical care will become an even greater priority for our region. This amendment directs the Secretary of Defense and Secretary of Veterans Affairs to investigate the possibility of a new clinic.

·         Includes $6 million to modernize Air Force ejection seats, a project that Lamborn has been working on all year.

·         Fully funds military construction projects in Colorado Springs ($109.2M).

·         Includes a requirement for the Treasury Department to list all companies and persons violating Iran sanctions (Sec. 1270).

·         Requires ongoing reports on Iran’s nuclear program (Sec. 1271), something which Lamborn has strongly advocated for.

·         Includes language offered by Lamborn amendment to enhance the ability of the Air Force Academy athletic programs to accept donations (Sec. 554).

·         Review and report of suicide prevent efforts in SOCOM (Sec. 582).

·         Independent assessment of mental health challenges facing SOCOM (Sec. 586).

·         $24M increase for SOCOM embedded mental health providers.

·         Fully funds Israeli missile defense programs.

·         Requires DOD to develop an acquisition strategy for health care professional staffing (Sec. 725).

·         Establishes a pilot program for acquiring commercial satellite communication services (Sec. 1605).

"I recognize that, as with most omnibus bills, there were some elements of this legislation that are disappointing. For instance, some military pharmacy copays will increase by three dollars for one year. However it is important to remember that generic prescriptions received through the mail will have no copay increases. This is an outcome House Republicans fought hard for. The White House and Senate wanted to double and triple all copays for an indefinite amount of time. Furthermore, I was disappointed by the lack of a larger pay raise and by changes to the Base Allowance for Housing.

I understand that some people are disappointed by some of the provisions of this bill, but having a completed NDAA, that has fully moved through the Congressional budget process, is a good thing for our military. It allows them to shape their decisions and plan their actions with budgetary certainty. I am confident that this bill will allow our military to continue to be the most capable, flexible, and effective force on the face of the earth."

- Congressman Doug Lamborn (CO-05)