{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://tsongas.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=49&itemid=1089", "House passes defense bill including numerous Tsongas provisions", "2013-12-13", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "MA", "Niki Tsongas", "T000465", "tsongas.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC\u2013 December 12, 2013 \u2013 Today the House of Representatives approved the Fiscal Year 2014 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which authorizes funding and sets policy for the Department of Defense.\r\n\r\n\tThe bill contains numerous provisions authored by Massachusetts Third District Congresswoman Niki Tsongas, including significant language to support the mission of local military facilities and historic changes to combat sexual assault in the military. She also authored important provisions that would further the research on lightweight body armor.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tThe Senate is expected to consider the FY2014 NDAA next week.\r\n\r\n\tTsongas is the only Massachusetts member of the House Armed Services Committee, serving as the top Democrat on the Subcommittee for Oversight and Investigations. She is also the co-chair of the Military Sexual Assault Prevention Caucus, along with Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio).\r\n\r\n\t  \r\n\tCongresswoman Tsongas released the following statement: \r\n\r\n\t\u201cCongress has come together every year for half a century to pass the NDAA and support our men and women in uniform. With numerous critical provisions and protections included in this legislation, this year cannot be any different.\r\n\r\n\t\u201cAt its core, the FY14 NDAA takes significant steps to protect and support American servicemembers, American businesses and America\u2019s national security. I worked across the aisle to author numerous sections of this bill that will ultimately give the men and women of our armed forces state-of-the-art resources for their increased safety and success, as well as support the innovative businesses and military bases, many right here in Massachusetts, that develop them.\r\n\r\n\t\u201cIn Massachusetts we bring together a unique combination of military, academic, industrial and business resources to form a leading defense innovation hub - this remarkable synergy positions our communities for economic growth and strongly supports the brave men and women of the United States military. Supporting the continued growth and preservation \u2013 in mission, infrastructure and personnel \u2013 of our installations benefits the region and the military as a whole.\r\n\r\n\t\u201cI authored several provisions that highlight the innovative work being done at Natick Soldier Systems Center and Hanscom Air Force Base. For example, a provision I authored allows for installations such as Natick to focus on updating and maintaining the infrastructure that allows them to continue their cutting-edge research and development.\r\n\r\n\t\u201cIn regard to the disturbing prevalence of sexual assault in the military, I have worked closely with Rep. Turner and other colleagues to develop unprecedented requirements in the FY14 NDAA that demand more of our military commanders and increase and expand support for survivors. Our changes offer considerable momentum toward changing the deep-rooted and flawed culture that has allowed these crimes to pervade our armed forces for far too long. Our work is not done. This is a multifaceted challenge and we will continue to pursue meaningful and substantial reform aimed at eradicating sexual assault in the military.\r\n\r\n\t\u201cAs with all bills of this size, there were pieces that I was not happy with. I oppose the continued funding for Guantanamo Bay and support measures to close the detention facility.\r\n\r\n\t\u201cBy not passing an NDAA, we would deny needed resources to servicemembers, as well as impact incentives for those serving in some of the most dangerous circumstances around the globe. That is not the way to serve those who so selflessly serve their country. I want to thank Chairman McKeon and Ranking Member Smith for their commitment to getting an NDAA done and I urge our Senate colleagues to take up and pass this legislation as soon as possible.\u201d\r\n\r\n\tThe following is a list of Tsongas-authored provisions included in the FY14 NDAA.   \r\n\t\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tMassachusetts military installations / businesses\r\n\r\n\tCongresswoman Tsongas authored several provisions that support Massachusetts\u2019 military installations, including Natick Soldier Systems Center and Hanscom Air Force Base, and support local businesses. As the only member of the Massachusetts Congressional delegation on the Armed Services Committee, Tsongas has been a staunch supporter of the state\u2019s military bases, working to foster and promote their exceptional innovation potential and the area\u2019s surplus of defense-related academic and business resources.\r\n\r\n\tIn past years, Tsongas authored language signed into law that provided critical congressional support to help ensure the retention of the military\u2019s mission at Hanscom Air Force Base and Lincoln Labs.\r\n\r\n\tTsongas\u2019 FY14 NDAA language:\r\n\r\n\t\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Secures $36 million for construction of an education facility at Hanscom Air Force Base;\r\n\r\n\t\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Secures $19 million to fully fund new barracks at Camp Edwards.\r\n \r\n\t\r\n\t\tAuthorizes certain military research and development installations, such as Natick Soldier Systems Center, to put more of their operating funding towards small, commander-initiated construction projects, giving more autonomy and focused resource development at a time when regular military construction funding is scarce.\r\n\t\r\n\t\tReiterates that the reorganization of the Air Force Materiel Command must adhere to existing laws regarding Congressional notification, while requiring the Secretary of the Air Force to provide quarterly reports on how the reorganization is impacting Hanscom Air Force Base\u2019s mission;\r\n \r\n\r\n\t\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Requires the Secretary of Defense to brief the Armed Services Committee on IT-specific acquisitions processes, such as those utilized at Hanscom Air Force Base.\r\n\r\n\t\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Language urging the continued, long-term development of innovative Hanscom Air Force Base programs that are providing critical communications tools for our warfighters.\r\n\r\n\t\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tMilitary Sexual Assault\r\n\r\n\tTsongas has been fighting on behalf of victims of military sexual trauma since she was first elected to Congress in 2007. She has partnered across the aisle with Congressman Mike Turner (R-Ohio) to author several pieces of legislation that have become law and put many new tools in the toolbox for the military to combat its scourge of sexual assault, give support to survivors, and help them seek justice. With Mr. Turner, she established the Military Sexual Assault Prevention Caucus and serves as its co-chair. They are the authors of the Defense STRONG Act, legislation passed into law in the FY12 NDAA that includes provisions to allow victims guaranteed access to legal assistance, enable expedited transfers for victims, maintain confidentiality when speaking with Victim Advocates, and provide greater training for sexual assault prevention at every level of the Armed Services.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\t\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tTsongas\u2019 FY14 NDAA language continues to address military sexual assault and support survivors.\r\n\r\n\t\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Removes a commander\u2019s ability to change or dismiss a conviction by a jury, except in the case of minor offenses, and limits the commander\u2019s ability to change a sentencing decision.\r\n\r\n\t\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Reforms the Article 32 process (the military\u2019s grand jury trial process) to limit its scope and prevent victims from being traumatized by irrelevant questions\r\n\r\n\t\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Ensures that those who are convicted of sexual assault will absolutely be discharged or dismissed.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\t\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Previous efforts by Congresswoman Tsongas and Congressman Turner put in place a mechanism to allow victims of sexual assault to request a transfer away from the location of their attacker and have that request considered on an expedited basis. The NDAA now calls upon commanders to consider transferring the perpetrator if the victim prefers to remain with his / her unit.\r\n\r\n\t\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The bill also eliminates the five-year statute of limitations on trial by Court-Martial for sexual assault and sexual assault of a child, and expands the legal assistance services available to military sexual assault victims.\r\n\r\n\t\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Ensures that a victim\u2019s voice will be heard in clemency proceedings after the accused has been convicted.\r\n\r\n\t\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Allows survivors of sexual assault and other victims to have an attorney or victim advocate present when they\u2019re interviewed by defense counsel.\r\n\r\n\t\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Ensures that victims of sexual assault in the U.S. Coast Guard\u00a0are granted the right to request a transfer away from the geographic location of their alleged assailant and have that transfer considered on an expedited basis.\r\n\r\n\t\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tBody Armor\r\n\r\n\tCongresswoman Tsongas has worked for several years to improve the body armor worn by servicemembers. In last year\u2019s NDAA, as a result of Tsongas\u2019 work, the authorized funding levels for body armor research and development were more than tripled.\u00a0 She also authored a provision directing the Department of Defense - for the first time ever - to develop body armor for women and to evaluate any available commercial options.\r\n\r\n\tHer language in this year\u2019s NDAA builds upon her previous successes in order to continue to seek the most efficient and effective ways to reduce body armor weight and create gender specific armor, all while maintaining the required level of safety.\r\n\r\n\tTsongas\u2019 FY14 NDAA language:\r\n\r\n\t\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Requires the Secretary of Defense to submit a comprehensive research and development (R&D) strategy for achieving significant weight reductions (20% or more) for both hard and soft body armor to the congressional defense committees, including an assessment of new materials which are currently being evaluated;\r\n\r\n\t\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Requires the Government Accountability Office to perform a study on acquisition practices pertaining to lightweight body armor, which will prioritize reducing the weight of body armor in the contracting process;\r\n\r\n\t\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Reiterates the requirement for the DoD Comptroller to establish procurement line items for body armor and other personal protective equipment (helmets, tactical goggles etc.) in order to improve oversight of the acquisitions process;\r\n\r\n\t\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Secures robust funding for body armor research, development, testing and evaluation.", 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://tsongas.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=49&itemid=1089"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.6881530862301588, "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"}