Courtney Secures Eastern Connecticut Priorities In 2022 NDAA As Defense Authorization Nears Completion In Congress

Statement

Tonight, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02), Chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces, voted to pass the final Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) (S. 1605). The vote marks one of the final milestones on the 2022 NDAA's path to becoming law--the House previously voted to pass the NDAA in September, but the Senate failed to take the bill up last week. Today's bill represents a version agreed upon by the bipartisan Chairs of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees.

The 2022 NDAA includes several provisions originally authored by Rep. Courtney and the Seapower Subcommittee, including funding to sustain the two-per-year build rate of Virginia-class submarines, to grow Virginia-class production to three-per-year by 2025, and to support a second year of construction on the Columbia-class submarine program. The bill also includes Courtney's signature effort to bolster the shipbuilding supply chain and upgrade the industrial base--investments that would enable workers in eastern Connecticut and across the U.S. to take on work emerging from increased submarine production, and potentially brand-new opportunities stemming from the historic AUKUS partnership between the U.S., Australia, and U.K.

"We started this work in the House with the Seapower Subcommittee, as we always do--and what a difference a year makes," said Congressman Courtney. "We've done nearly a full one-eighty from last year, when we met the challenge to restore construction of an entire submarine for 2021. Instead, the bipartisan 2022 NDAA maintains the same historic support for Virginia- and Columbia-class submarine construction that our House Seapower Subcommittee originally authored and authorized in September--the most support for subs since the 1980's. That's a big milestone for our U.S. Navy, it means more work opportunities for our shipbuilders, engineers, and manufacturers in eastern Connecticut, and it's a bipartisan provision that originated with us on the House Seapower Subcommittee.

Rep. Courtney continued: "The 2022 NDAA also includes a provision I authored to prepare our submarine shipyards for increased attack submarine production, beyond the current two-a-year rate. Whether it's meeting our nation's own demand for submarine capabilities or supporting the historic AUKUS agreement to support the construction of nuclear-powered submarines for our Australian allies, it's crucial that we are preparing now for the new opportunities to come.

"The House's NDAA includes the final authorization needed to construct the new Putnam Readiness Center for our Connecticut Army National Guard, and to construct the Connecticut Air National Guard's new base. It includes Impact Aid funding for our local schools serving military families, a raise for all servicemembers, and funding to support undersea research and partnerships with local small businesses and universities like UConn. This is a great bill for servicemembers, shipbuilders, and our supply chain, we've pressed hard this year to bring it all home, and I was proud to advance it tonight towards President Biden's desk."

The House voted to pass the 2022 NDAA by a margin of 363-70. This marks the 61st consecutive year that the House has completed the nation's defense authorization on a bipartisan basis. Now that the House has voted in favor of the finalized 2022 NDAA, the bill will move on to the Senate for a secondary authorization, and on to President Biden's desk for signature.

Eastern Connecticut Priorities included in the 2022 NDAA

Submarines and Undersea Capabilities -- The House-passed NDAA provides a total of $13.4 billion for submarine procurement, repair, research & development priorities including:

Virginia-class Submarine -- supports the sustained two-per-year build rate of new Virginia-class submarines in 2022 and beyond, continuing the Block V multi-year contract and reflecting Courtney's bipartisan work to preserve the two a year build rate. The bill also authorizes $200 million to allow the Navy to support shipyard facility and industrial base improvements to enable future increases in Virginia class submarine production from two to three by 2025, a long-time priority of Chairman Courtney's.
Columbia-class Submarine -- fully supports the second year of funding for the first Columbia class submarine and supports advanced procurement to support the second, in line with the contract announced in June 2020, as well as a Courtney-authored provision providing $130 million to continue efforts to improve the nationwide submarine supplier base. The bill also directs the Navy Secretary to outline additional authorities that are needed in the National Sea-Based Deterrents Fund (NSBDF) to reduce risk, achieve cost savings, or increase flexibility in executing the program. Recent data from the Navy shows that use of NSBDF authorities have saved $1.4 billion in the Columbia program, to the tune of over $100 million per boat.
Research and Development of Future Submarine Capabilities-- the bill includes $900 million in research and development of future submarine capabilities, including a $100 million increase for developing capabilities for the next block of submarines, and about $30 million to develop the SSN(X), the planned future follow-on to the Virginia-class. These efforts are vital to sustaining the health of the design and engineering workforce at Electric Boat.
USS Hartford repair availability -- the bill fully authorizes the budget request of $710 million to support the remainder of the maintenance availability for the USS Hartford in 2022. In June, the Navy awarded the "smart start" contract to Groton's Electric Boat (EB) for initial maintenance work on the boat, one of the largest submarine maintenance availabilities ever executed by the yard. Click here to learn more.
The bill also includes other Courtney-led provisions to augment undersea priorities such as:

Academic Partnerships for Undersea Research -- The bill authorizes $16.5 million to support partnerships with academic institutions conducting research on undersea capabilities, such as the National Institute for Undersea Vehicle Technology, a collaborative program between the University of Connecticut and the University of Rhode Island.
Increased Production Facility -- The bill adopted $200 million for increased production facility that will be necessary to expand capacity to assist allies and the U.S. Navy in meeting submarine demand.
Submarine Workforce Development -- Authorizes $20 million to support training programs to help support expansion of the skilled submarine workforce as the industrial base ramps up construction of new submarines. Courtney has strongly supported workforce development efforts in the region to support hiring at Electric Boat and the supply chain through programs like the Eastern Connecticut Manufacturing Pipeline.
Remote Acoustic Sensors -- The bill includes a Courtney-authored provision to allocate $20 million towards supporting operational testing of unmanned remote acoustic sensor systems, which will help the Navy evaluate existing off-the-shelf platforms like those developed by Groton's ThayerMahan.
Connecticut National Guard

Tactical Airlift & C-130 Modernization -- The agreement authorizes $141 million in enhancements to the C-130 fleet, including critical engine and propeller upgrades to enhance power, speed, and efficiency of the tactical airlift fleet flown by the Air National Guard. The 130rd Airlift Wing of the Connecticut Air National Guard flies the C-130. The agreement also requires the Air Force to sustain a force of at least 279 tactical aircraft in support of mobility and airlift requirements.
Putnam National Guard Readiness Center -- Authorizes a new Connecticut National Guard Readiness Center in Putnam. The new Putnam Readiness Center would primarily support the CT Guard's 643rd Military Police Company and its training, administrative, and logistical requirements. Currently, the unit is stationed at an armory in Westbrook, CT, which was built in 1955 and does not meet current anti-terrorism and force protections standards. Click here to read more.
Bradley Air National Guard Base -- Authorizes $17 million for the Connecticut Air National Guard's Aerospace Ground Equipment and Vehicle Maintenance Facility. The facility is the last major C-130 specific mission-driven project to execute on Bradley Air National Guard Base since the installation started the conversion to the C-130 aircraft back in 2013, and will ensure mission readiness of the 103rd Air Wing.
Additional Connecticut Aerospace Priorities

F-35 Joint Strike Fighter -- Supports procurement of 85 F-35 aircraft for the Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps, equal to the budget request. The bill reprioritizes F-35 program funding to support the services' Unfunded Priority Lists that would accelerate and bolster F-35 maintenance activities and procurement of additional engine modules, built at Pratt & Whitney.
Blackhawks -- Supports the budget request for 57 UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters, including 9 dedicated to the National Guard, built at Sikorsky.
CH53-K -- Supports the budget request for 11 CH-53K heavy lift helicopters, built at Sikorsky.
Kaman/K-Max -- Authorizes $7 million to continue development of unmanned logistics capabilities with the CQ-24A helicopter manufactured by Bloomfield-based Kaman Aerospace
Other notable provisions

A pay raise for servicemembers -- the bill authorizes a 2.7% pay increase for American military personnel
Defense Impact Aid -- Authorizes $50 million for the DOD supplemental impact aid program, which provides support to local school districts with high proportions of military children, including Groton public schools, and $10.0 million for local educational agencies eligible to receive a payment for children with severe disabilities and $10 million to local educational agencies determined by the Secretary to have higher concentrations of military children with severe disabilities. This program is in addition to the primary Impact Aid program funded through the Department of Education, which does not fall within the jurisdiction of the House Armed Services Committee.
Afghanistan -- The bill includes several provisions related to Afghanistan, including creation of a bipartisan commission to review the totality of the war and lessons learned. The bill requires that the Defense Department provide information and brief the committee on a wide range of concerns related to the withdrawal from Afghanistan and post-war counterterrorism strategy, reallocating of funds initially requested to support the non-defunct Afghan National Security Forces, and equipment abandoned by Afghan security forces. Finally, the bill includes provisions honoring the servicemen and women who put themselves in harm's way to support the Kabul airlift operation -- especially the thirteen who lost their lives.
Military Justice -- Incorporates many recommendations of the Independent Review Commission on Sexual Assault in the Military to the Secretary of Defense, including removing the Commander from decisions related to the prosecution of special victim crimes and creating an Office of the Special Victim Prosecutor within in each Service and ensuring their independence by requiring they directly report to the Service Secretary.
ESOPs -- Creates a new incentive for business owners to consider selling their businesses to their employees and helps companies secure their existing revenue streams following the transition from limited ownership to full employee ownership.

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