Readiness Chairman Garamendi Applauds Passage of the Readiness Subcommittee's Contributions to the National Defense Authorization Act

Press Release

Today, Congressman John Garamendi (D-CA), Chairman of the Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness, applauded the subcommittee's unanimous passage of its mark for the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)--the annual authorization for the United States Military. The Readiness mark covers a wide range of issues and includes provisions that help the military prepare for the effects of climate change and reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, address contamination and health risks associated with Per- and Polyfluorinated Compounds (PFAS), and ensure service members and their families have the best on-base housing possible:

"I am pleased that the Readiness Subcommittee has once again come together to address critical issues facing our service members and the more than 1,000 military installations worldwide. As Chairman of the Readiness Subcommittee, I included provisions in this bill to support our service members, require the U.S. military--the largest institutional consumer of oil in the world--to be an ally in the fight against climate change, and more" Garamendi said.

"I appreciate the work and partnership of Readiness Subcommittee Ranking Member Mike Waltz (R-Fl). Likewise, I greatly appreciate the input and contributions every member of the Readiness Subcommittee brings to their work on this subcommittee. I'm proud to support the Readiness Subcommittee's mark for the FY23 NDAA, and I will work tirelessly to ensure it becomes law," Garamendi concluded.

Specifically, this year's Readiness Subcommittee mark:

Requires the U.S. Military to Address the Climate Crisis:
- Electric Vehicle (EV) Net Zero Pilot Program: Requires the Department of Defense to carry out a pilot program to facilitate the transition to EVs while mitigating grid stress through the use of microgrids and other infrastructure that mitigates grid stress.
- Battery Recycling: Requires the Department of Defense to increase the recycling of advanced batteries and address rare and strategic mineral shortages.
- Sustainable Aviation Fuel: Requires the Department of Defense to create a pilot program to collaborate with civilian airfields on the use of sustainable aviation fuel in military aircraft.
- Integrated Solar Roofing: Requires the Department of Defense to amend the Unified Facilities Criteria to include consideration of integrated solar roofing on new construction within the United States.
- Utilities Privatization: Requires the Department to report on how it will use existing utilities privatization authorities to maximize the installation of charging infrastructure for EVs.

Improving Service Member Housing, Lodging, and Community

Housing Availability:
- Annual briefing on Military Housing Privatization Initiative (MHPI) projects: Requires an annual briefing on the health and status of military housing privatization projects throughout the military.
- Barracks: Establishes a feasibility study on privatizing unaccompanied housing to include barracks and dormitories.

Environmental Restoration and PFAS Policy:
- PFAS Destruction Technologies: Requires the military to remove PFAS contamination throughout military installations.
- Firefighter Turnout Gear: Prohibits purchase of Firefighter gear containing PFAS if acceptable alternatives are available. Includes $1 million for the Environmental Security Technology Certification Program to test and certify equipment.
- PFAS Uses: Requires the Department of Defense to send a list of essential uses for PFAS and the reason why there are no acceptable alternatives available. Also, requires DOD to report on its progress in minimizing the use of non-essential items containing PFAS.

Maintaining Essential Military Equipment and Infrastructure:
- Thirty-Year Ship Maintenance Plan: Creates a permanent requirement for the Navy to submit an annual 30-year maintenance plan along with its annual 30-year shipbuilding plan. This could help revitalize America's shipyards, like Mare Island in Vallejo, CA.
- Private Shipyards: Requires the Secretary of the Navy to provide a report on the potential certification of additional U.S. private shipyards for Navy maintenance, including an assessment of the private shipyards that could perform Navy maintenance if certified.
- Fighter Readiness: Requires the Comptroller General to conduct a review of fighter aircraft readiness that addresses historical operation and support costs, planned modernization efforts, employment of sustainment best practices, and whether operation and maintenance funding levels have impacted fighter readiness.
- F-35 Operational Capabilities: Requires the Comptroller General to conduct a review of the F-35's initial deployments and assess the extent to which operational F-35s have met performance expectations and experienced sustainment-related challenges.

Supporting Military Personnel:
- Base Access: Requires the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security to provide a briefing on the implementation of military installation access standards across the department, to include an update on the latest revision to DoD's policy (which is currently in development) and an assessment of the extent to which access standards are being implemented consistently across installations.
- Uniform Changes for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Protection: Requires a briefing from the Defense Logistics Agency on any supply chain disruptions as the Department transitions to newer protective gear that provides chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear protection in toxic environments.

Source