Rep. Chu’s Statement on the House Passage of the FY 2023 National Defense Authorization Act

Washington, D.C. — Today, the House passed H.R. 7900, the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The FY23 NDAA authorizes a total of $802.4 billion in discretionary defense spending for the Department of Defense (DoD) — providing much needed funding and support for priorities critical to our national defense strategy.

"Despite my apprehensions concerning an already inflated defense budget, I was proud to vote in favor of the House version of the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act — which better supports our servicemembers, global alliances and overall national defense strategy and operations. With provisions ranging from a 4.6-percent pay raise for our servicemembers — the largest pay raise in decades — to addressing climate change through sustainable aviation to further cementing our commitment to NATO, we are positioned to see significant changes and reforms enacted by the Department of Defense," said Rep. Chu. "Additionally, in the FY23 NDAA package, is an amendment I co-led which includes text from the San Gabriel Mountains, Foothills, and Rivers Protection Act. Representing the San Gabriel Valley, I want to ensure as many people as possible have the chance to visit these treasured lands — today and for many years to come. Moving forward, I eagerly await the Senate markup and pushing this critical funding across the finish line."

Rep. Chu's priorities in this year's NDAA include:

• The San Gabriel Mountains Foothills and Rivers Protection Act to expand protections in the mountains and establish a National Recreation Area along the Foothills and San Gabriel River corridor.
• A 4.6-percent pay raise and inflation bump for military personnel making less than $45,000 annually — the largest servicemember pay raise in decades.
• Codifying a $15 minimum wage for workers on federal service and construction contracts.
• Creating reporting requirements for transparent, fair, and flexible basic housing allowances, as well as critical investments for child development centers, barracks, and other military facilities.
• Bold reforms, which include the establishment of a Commission on Civilian Harm to better mitigate and prevent civilian impairment during military operations.
• Builds on efforts to address climate change, including the creation of a pilot program to study sustainable military aviation fuel.
• Eliminates Tri-Care co-pay for contraception and establishes a program to better train civilian behavioral health providers to meet the unique health care challenges of servicemembers and their families.
• Provides protections for Documented Dreamers — dependent visa holders who were brought to the U.S. legally as children but are at risk of aging out of the program.
• Further expresses strong Congressional support for the U.S. commitments to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) alliance and extends authorization of the Afghan Special Immigrant Visas (SIV).
• Requirements for the DoD to submit reports on actions carried out to increase participation of Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs), and, in particular, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
• Provides $1 billion for Ukrainian aid and harmonizes statutory authorities with changes made in the Ukraine Supplement Appropriations Act of 2022, and the Additional Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2022.
• Holding Azerbaijan accountable for aggression against Armenia and Artsakh.