Rep. Mike Levin to Help Pass Defense Bill with Key Priorities for CA-49

Press Release

Today, U.S. Representative Mike Levin (D-CA) will vote to pass the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 National Defense Authorization Act with key priorities for servicemembers at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton and communities throughout the 49th District. The bill includes a 4.6% pay raise for servicemembers and civilians, an inflation bonus for those making less than $45,000 per year, and a $15 minimum wage for workers on federal service and construction contracts. It also includes two amendments Rep. Levin introduced to strengthen the Transition Assistance Program for servicemembers separating from the military and to improve a Department of Defense (DoD) survey on sexual assault. A summary of the FY 2023 NDAA from the House Armed Services Committee is available here.

"The National Defense Authorization Act is critical not only for strengthening our national security, but also in improving the lives of servicemembers and their families at Camp Pendleton, and I'm proud that this legislation will deliver on several key priorities for them," said Rep. Levin. "First and foremost, I'm glad we are providing the pay raise and inflation bonuses that our troops deserve. I'm also proud to secure a bipartisan amendment that will help ensure servicemembers transitioning back to civilian life have the best chance to succeed in their post-military careers, as well as an amendment to better understand why LGBTQ servicemembers are disproportionately targeted in sexual assault crimes within the military. Along with other provisions to support Ukraine's defense, secure a $15 minimum wage for contractors, and invest in new technologies, this NDAA represents the values and priorities of our community, and I look forward to voting for it."

The NDAA includes an amendment from Rep. Levin matching his bipartisan Transition Improvement by Estimating Risk (TIER) Act to improve the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) for servicemembers separating from the military and preparing for civilian careers. The bill adds new screening criteria, such as childcare needs and spousal employment status, to improve the program's effectiveness. The bill also makes changes to address confusion around servicemembers' disability or discharge status, which will help the military services best place servicemembers in the correct TAP pathway.

The bill also includes Rep. Levin's amendment to require the Armed Forces Workplace and Gender Relations Survey to solicit information that will help the military better understand the contributing factors to sexual assault among servicemembers. The survey anonymously collects important information from servicemembers about the specific types of assault that occur, the number of assaults a respondent has experienced, the effectiveness of assault investigations, and a wide range of other information on racial, ethnic, and gender issues in the military. A RAND study revealed that self-identified LGBTQ servicemembers -- a minority of all members of the military -- make up nearly half of sexual assault victims in the military. Rep. Levin's amendment will require the survey to ask sexual assault survivors if they believe they were targeted or discriminated against due to factors such as their sexual orientation, race, or religion. This data will help improve strategies to prevent sexual assault in the military, particularly against LGBTQ servicemembers.

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