{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://rodneydavis.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=403542", "Davis Statement on National Defense Authorization Act", "2019-12-20", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "IL", "Rodney Davis", "D000619", "rodneydavis.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Davis Statement on National Defense Authorization Act \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,\r\n        December 20, 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      \r\n      \r\n      U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill) today released this statement on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which President Trump is expected to sign at a ceremony at Andrews Air Force Base later today. The NDAA overwhelmingly passed the House and Senate earlier this week.\r\n\r\nDavis applauded the adequate funding for our military, pay raise for our troops, repeal of the 'widow's tax,' and the inclusion of his bill, the Fallen Heroes Family Travel Act, which Davisintroducedfollowing the death of Petty Officer Logan Palmer from Macon County.\r\n\r\n\"This bill not only takes care of our servicemembers through adequate funding and a pay raise, it also takes care of the families of our troops,\" said Davis. \"I am so glad we have repealed the 'widow's tax' and codified into law the changes I led at the Pentagon so all families of our fallen servicemembers are able to travel to meet their loved one's remains if they are sent anywhere but home. Codifying this into law ensures the Pentagon's new policy cannot be changed without an act of Congress\"\r\n\r\nAdditionally, Davis noted the first-ever paid family leave for federal workers, which was included in the bill.\r\n\r\n\"I have always provided paid family leave for staff in my offices and I'm glad we could come together to ensure it's available for other federal workers,\" said Davis. \"We are behind nearly every industrialized nation when it comes to paid family leave and I think it's long overdue. Many private companies are beginning to offer this benefit as a retention tool, but we need to do more to help even more Americans have access to this benefit critical to so many families.\"\r\n\r\nDavis is leading efforts to help working families secure time off and save for child care. He's introduced theChild and Dependent Care Modernization Actto help more families save for child care and Davis is also backing a bill, theNew Parents Act, that allows parents after the birth or adoption of a child to use a portion of their Social Security to take time off. The bill is being pushed by Senators Marco Rubio and Mitt Romney in the Senate.\r\n\r\nAdditional Details\r\n\r\n \r\n    $738 billion topline funding for our military.\r\n    3.1 percent pay raise for the troops  the largest in a decade that will go into effect January 1, 2020.\r\n    Provides $5.7 million to allow surviving families of military members who die on active duty or in retirement to receive the full benefits for which they are allowed  effectively ending the widow's tax. Currently, survivors of deceased military servicemembers must give up part or all of their purchased Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) annuity when they receive he VA's Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits  the difference or loss between the SBP and DIC is the widows tax.\r\n    Provides 12 weeks of paid parental leave to all federal workers for the first time in American history  an initiative that has been supported by Ivanka Trump and the White House.\r\n    The Fallen Heroes Family Travel Act, which would allow the Department of Defense to pay for the travel of families of servicemembers who have died in non-combat situations to Dover Air Force Base to meet their remains  an idea that spurred from the August 2017 USS McCain collision where 12 sailors died, including Petty Officer Logan S. Palmer of Harristown, Illinois.\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://rodneydavis.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=403542"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.4316460583359003, "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"}