Schneider Combats Iranian Aggression, Climate Crisis in National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)
WASHINGTON— Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The bill included language from Schneider’s efforts to combat Iranian aggression and expanded the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) within the Department of Defense (DOD) to reduce America’s carbon footprint.
"I was proud to help pass the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The NDAA demonstrates Congress's bipartisan commitment to national security and our servicemembers and their families who serve and sacrifice in defense of our country. The priorities encoded in the NDAA reflect the shared values of our nation, including promoting global security, fighting climate change, and supporting our servicemembers with a raise," Schneider said.
Schneider introduced the DEFEND Act in June, 2022. The NDAA would establish an integrated strategy with allies and partners in the Middle East for developing the defense capabilities to avert Iranian missile and drone attacks, as outlined in the DEFEND Act.
Schneider also introduced a bipartisan amendment with Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (TN-03) reaffirming Congress’s commitment to ensuring Iran will never acquire a nuclear weapon and condemning Iran’s lack of transparency and cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, which safeguards nuclear material around the globe. The amendment was included in the final text of the NDAA.
Schneider introduced the Sustainable Skies Act in May, 2021. The language was adopted in the Inflation Reduction Act. Now, the NDAA will establish a pilot program for the deployment of SAF at select DOD facilities around the country, which would exclusively use jet fuel blended with at least 10% SAF. DOD would then study the implementation and challenges of SAF at these facilities to develop broader use of SAF within the military.
Schneider, along with Reps. Mike Quigley and Jan Schakowsky, also successfully secured the inclusion of Lake County as a “Section 219” geographic area within the Water Resources Development Act, which was legislation included within the NDAA. Including Lake County as a Sec. 219 geographic area expands the environmental infrastructure-related authorities and assistance that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers can provide the community to better manage flooding, storm water, and other challenges.
Additionally, this year’s NDAA gave a 4.6% pay raise for servicemembers, protected servicemembers’ right to travel to access legal abortion, and secured significant investments in clean energy through solar and electric technologies.
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