{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.capito.senate.gov/news/press-releases/capito-votes-in-favor-of-national-defense-authorization-act", "Capito Votes in Favor of National Defense Authorization ActRead More", "2020-12-11", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "WV", "Shelley Capito", "C001047", "www.capito.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) today voted in favor of the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act, annual legislation that fulfills Congress\u2019 constitutional duty to \u201cprovide for the common defense.\"\n\n\u201cThis broad, bipartisan bill focuses on implementing the National Defense Strategy to confront challenges from Russia, China, Iran, as well as protect against international terrorism and other threats. By ensuring technological advantages, securing supply chains, making key investments in modernized warfare, and prioritizing accountability and streamlining operations at the Pentagon, we are able to retain our military superiority,\u201d Senator Capito said. \u201cBut most importantly, this bill takes care of our troops and their families not only by authorizing a well-deserved pay raise, but also by improving the lives of military families with flexible childcare, education, and housing.\u201d\n\nHIGHLIGHTS OF THE 2021 NDAA:\n\nAuthorizes a requested 3 percent pay raise for our troops\n\nProvides a total of $740.5 billion in funding to fulfill the requirements of the president\u2019s National Defense Strategy\n\nPositions the United States to best defend our interests in the Indo-Pacific and deter Chinese military and economic aggression by establishing and resourcing the Pacific Deterrence Initiative\n\nAccelerates innovation by focusing investments on key capabilities and technologies that will put us light years ahead of our strategic competitors, including artificial intelligence, hypersonic weapons, cybersecurity, and biotechnologies\n\nContinues the President Trump\u2019s historic efforts to rebuild our military superiority by investing in the next generation of ships, planes, tanks, and weapons\n\nImproves the lives and livelihoods of military families by helping military spouses find and keep good jobs, guaranteeing access to quality, flexible child care and education, and ensuring families are living in healthy, safe housing\n\nMakes the Pentagon more transparent and accountable to the American people by modernizing reporting requirements and improving the budget request materials\n\nProtects our troops and supports military readiness by ensuring our troops have adequate diagnostic equipment, testing capabilities, and PPE, and supporting the whole-of-government response to the COVID-19 pandemic\n\nCAPITO PRIORITIES INCLUDED IN THE 2021 NDAA:\n\nProhibits of the divestment of RC-26B manned intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance aircraft that are based in Martinsburg.\n\nSupports military mothers by ensuring women serving in the National Guard and Reserves can take maternity leave without worry about how it will affect their compensation and credits towards their retirement for their military service. Senator Capito was a co-sponsor of this provision, the Mothers of Military Service (MOMS) Leave Act.\n\nEnsures minimum number of 287 C-130 aircraft, which is critical for military readiness and the West Virginia National Guard.\n\nSupports dual-status technicians and the important role these men and women play in supporting operations of the National Guard.\n\nIncludes the U.S. Israel Security Assistance Authorization Act, which further cements the partnership between the United States and Israel.\n\nIncludes rare earth elements (REEs) report language to ensure the United States is not dependent on foreign adversaries like China for REEs that are necessary for technological capabilities.\n\nA detailed summary of the 2021 NDAA can be found here.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"]], "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://www.capito.senate.gov/news/press-releases/capito-votes-in-favor-of-national-defense-authorization-act"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.5954069569706917, "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"}