Hudson Secures Gains for Troops, Fort Bragg in National Defense Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (R-NC), Fort Bragg's Congressman and a voice for veterans, praised pay raises for troops, investments for Fort Bragg, and other provisions in the FY 22 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Rep. Hudson supported the legislation which passed the U.S. House of Representatives last night by a vote of 363-70. The bill must now be passed by the Senate before being signed into law.
"As Fort Bragg’s Congressman, supporting our troops, their families, and veterans is a top priority. This defense bill provides needed investments for Fort Bragg and military families, while excluding Democrat-led provisions like red flag laws which threatened the Second Amendment," said Rep. Hudson. "I will continue working to support our troops, their families, and our rights."
Rep. Hudson led over 160 House Republicans in efforts to remove red flag provisions from the final NDAA. Additionally, Rep. Hudson worked to ensure other critical priorities were included. Read more about those below.
Representative Hudson's Priorities Secured in the NDAA
Safeguards Against Vaccines Mandates for Servicemembers
- Prohibits the DoD from dishonorably discharging servicemembers that refuse the COVD-19 vaccine. Servicemembers may only receive an honorable discharge or a general discharge under honorable conditions. This policy will retroactively apply to the date of the DoD COVID-19 vaccine order and be in place for at least 2 years.
- Requires the DoD to establish uniform standards under which servicemembers may be exempted from receiving the COVID-19 vaccine for administrative, medical, or religious reasons. The DoD must consider the effects of natural immunity in setting medical standards, as well as whether the servicemember is approaching retirement when setting the administrative exemption standards.
- Requires the DoD to establish a system to track and record all vaccines administered by the DoD and any adverse reactions to vaccines.
Red Flag Laws Removed
- Blocks proposed provisions that restricted the Second Amendment rights of servicemembers.
Accountability for the Biden Administration's Withdrawal from Afghanistan
- Prohibits the DoD from providing any financial support to the Taliban.
- Prohibits the use of DoD aircraft to transfer frozen currency reserves or other assets to the Taliban.
- Directs the Secretary of Defense to recover all aircraft provided by the U.S. to Afghan Security Forces relocated to other countries.
- Establishes an independent commission to review the entirety of the Afghanistan War including the disastrous withdrawal and present finding and recommendations to Congress.
- Requires ongoing reports to Congress on DoD expenditures in support of Afghan resettlement activities.
Investments in Troops, Military Family Readiness, Education & Healthcare
- Authorizes a 2.7% pay increase for servicemembers.
- Extends military recruitment and retention bonuses and special pay authorities.
- Provides nearly $1.5 billion to improve servicemember family housing.
- Prevents cuts to the military health program, increases funding for vaccine research, and provides $35 million for research and treatment of Havana syndrome.
- Increases parental leave and expands the in-home childcare pilot program
- Improves support available to military families with special needs children by requiring an independent analysis of the DoD Comprehensive Autism Care Demonstration program.
- Requires the DoD to conduct a thorough and independent review of suicide prevention and response programs at various military installations.
- Creates a pilot program to establish employment fellowship opportunities for military spouses and requires a study on employment of military spouses.
- Authorizes an increase in funding of $70 million for Impact Aid — $50 million for supplemental Impact Aid and $20 million for Impact Aid for military children with severe disabilities.
- Requires a report on the Preservation of the Force and Family Program (POTFF) for Special Operations Forces (SOF).
- The report will provide progress of implementation for SOF.
- The report will include plans for improvement to POTFF to better address needs of the SOF community.
- Builds on improvements to POTFF secured by Rep. Hudson in last year's NDAA.
- Gives the Secretary of Defense authority to temporarily increase Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rates until December 21, 2022.
- Includes $517 million to address PFAS chemicals and requires the DoD to test for and study the impact of PFAS exposure in defense communities.
Military Construction for Fort Bragg
- Total funding: $27.2 million
- Emergency Water System - $7.7 million
- MW Microgrid Utilizing Existing and New Generators - $19.5 million
- Meets several priorities identified by Rep. Hudson in testimony to the Appropriations Committee in May.
Border Security
- Continues funding for the deployment of National Guard to the border.
- Requires an assessment of the impact of forcing the DoD to transport illegal immigrants on military readiness.
Addresses Sexual Assault Prevention
- Criminalizes sexual harassment under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. All claims of sexual harassment will be required to be investigated by an independent investigator outside the chain of command.
- Increases the notification for survivors of sexual assault by directing the Services to notify survivors about the outcomes of any administrative action taken against their perpetrator.
- Allows the DoD Safe Helpline to take restricted and unrestricted reports for eligible sexual assault victims.
- Requires the Department of Defense to track allegations of retaliation by victims of sexual assault or sexual harassment and related persons.
- Builds on legislation sponsored by Rep. Hudson to combat sexual assault in the military.
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