{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://crist.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1815", "NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT CONFERENCE PASSES HOUSE", "2019-12-11", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "FL", "Charlie Crist", "C001111", "crist.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT CONFERENCE PASSES HOUSE \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington, DC,\r\n        December 11, 2019\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      Washington, DC  U.S. Representative Charlie Crist (D-St. Petersburg) released the following statement on House passage of the Conference Report for the FY 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This comprehensive bill to protect our country, our servicemembers, and military families raises military pay by 3.1 percent  the largest in history  and provides 12 weeks of paid family leave for federal workers. The bill also allows servicemembers to receive compensation in cases of medical malpractice for the first time in history; repeals the Widow's Tax, which prevents surviving spouses from receiving the full benefits they are entitled to; creates a nationwide U.S. Coast Guard JROTC program that will kickstart a program at Pinellas Park High School; and reforms privatized military housing, like those at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, to include a Military Family Tenant's Bill of Rights. The NDAA House-Senate agreement was passed by a vote of 377-48 and is expected to be signed into law before the new year. With passage of the National Defense Authorization Act, Congress has secured major victories for those in uniform and their families, said Rep. Crist. For Pinellas and MacDill Air Force Base families, the NDAA also marks a major victory as the federal government steps in to reform unsafe, poorly maintained privatized military housing like those plagued by mold. Additionally, the NDAA provides our community with the incredible opportunity to groom the next generation of Coast Guard leaders in our own backyard. This NDAA puts our servicemembers, their families, and my constituents first. The National Defense Authorization Act includes the follow provisions: \r\n \r\n    Raises military pay by 3.1 percent;\r\n    Provides 12 weeks of paid family leave for federal workers;\r\n    Partial repeal of the Feres Doctrine, allowing members of the military for the first time to receive compensation for suffering from medical malpractice;\r\n    Repeals the Widow's Tax, providing surviving spouses the full benefits they are entitled to;\r\n    Creates a nationwide Coast Guard JROTC program, allowing local high schools to apply for their own USCG JROTC programs; and\r\n    Reforms privatized military housing to protect our servicemembers and their families who live on base.\r\n \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://crist.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1815"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.5329490415751934, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}