releases: https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/final-2021-ndaa-nears-completion-house-votes-pass-bipartisan-ndaa
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| https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/final-2021-ndaa-nears-completion-house-votes-pass-bipartisan-ndaa | Final 2021 NDAA Nears Completion as House Votes to Pass Bipartisan NDAA Conference Report | 2020-12-08 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | Senate | CT | Joe Courtney | C001069 | courtney.house.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, DC Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02), Chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee onSeapowerand Projection Forces,made the following statement today after the House voted in overwhelming bipartisan fashion to pass theconference report to accompany theFiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act. Courtney wasa core conferee appointed to the committee responsible for negotiating the final bill, andledtheSeapowerand Projection ForcesSubcommitteeinsecuring some of the final package's most importantprovisions.The House passed the final conferenced version of the NDAA today by a vote of 335-78-1. The FY21 NDAA conference report provides support forRep.Courtney'sbipartisan effort to restore full funding for the construction of the second Virginia-class submarinea vessel that the Navy listed as itsmost important unfunded priorityin 2021and includes many other important provisions. The final, conferenced NDAA also includes Rep. Courtney's amendmentstosupport academic partnerships for undersea research like those at UConn,to authorize $50 million for the DOD supplementalImpactAidProgram which supports public school districts like Groton and Ledyard, to prioritize working with U.S. allies to protectcritical materials, and much more. Today,the House voted to seal the deal. Thefinal negotiated version of the 2021 NDAA includes theSeapowerSubcommittee's year-long effort tobuck the Trump Budget andfully restoreconstruction of the second Virginia-class submarine, itsets course onthedecades-longjourney to see the new Columbia-class program through to completion,and it providessteadfastsupport to our men and women in uniform and to eastern Connecticut's manufacturing sector,said Congressman Courtney.This isa strong, bipartisanconference report,it's embedded with some of the most important priorities of theSeapowerSubcommittee, andthe House came togethertodayto pass thefinalconferencereportin a bipartisan landslide. As Iget readyto close out myfirst termas Chairman of theSeapowerSubcommittee, I'mparticularly pleased with what we were able to achieve in this year's NDAAwhile up against a global pandemic, and an Administration seeminglydeterminedto weakenthe Navy's shipbuilding plan.Our final bill doesn't just reverse theWhite House's budget request on submarines,it also provides the final authorizations needed to move full steam ahead on the Navy's most important next-generation acquisition priority: the Columbia-class submarine program.The Virginia-class submarine we successfully restored to the NDAA will be in the water for the next forty years, and shipbuilders in Groton will be developing the Columbia-class for the next thirty yearsthese aren't just priorities for our U.S. Navy, they're generational opportunities for thousands of manufacturers and engineers in eastern Connecticut. The final agreement we passed today also authorizes an across-the-board pay raise for our troops, supports critical airlift platforms operated by National Guardforces across theU.S., and much more.These are the sorts of bipartisan achievements that are at risk when the President lobs out nonsensical veto threatsour Navy's top priorities, pay raises forour soldiers,opportunities for American manufacturers, and more.I was proud to negotiate this final bipartisan NDAA and to advance it one last time today in the House. There's no excuse for the President to not sign this bill, and we're moving forward to get the job done. Key provisions that Courtney championed in the 2021 NDAA Seapowerand Projection Forces PrioritiesAs Chairman of theSeapowerand Projection Forces Subcommittee, Courtney has advocated for Navy, Air Force and maritime priorities important to Connecticut and the nation.Virginia Class Submarine The report authorizes $6.8 billion for the Virginia class submarine program, an increase of $2.6 billion over the budget request thatCourtney secured to restore a second submarine in 2021. The Trump Administration requested just one submarine in 2021, breaking the steady two a year build rate that has been in place since 2011 and undermining efforts to address looming shortfalls in the submarine fleet.Columbia-Class Ballistic Missile Submarines The report authorizes $4 billion to initiate construction of the new Columbia-class submarine. Last month, the Navy announced the award of $10.3 billion in contracting options for the first two submarines in the program to Electric Boat. The report also includes Courtney's provision to authorize incremental funding for these submarines within the National Sea Based Deterrence Fund, which will ensure the cost-effective and efficient construction of this important program.Submarine Workforce and Development Training Authorizes $20 million to support training programs to help support expansion of the skilled submarine workforce as the industrial base ramps up construction of new submarines. Courtney has strongly supported workforce development efforts in the region to support hiring at Electric Boat and the supply chain through programs like the Eastern Connecticut Manufacturing Pipeline.Long Range Strike Bomber The report fully supports the requested $2.8 billion for continued development of the B-21 Raider. Pratt & Whitney is a partner in the next-generation long range strike bomber program.KC-46APegasus The report authorizes $2.7 billion for 15 KC-46A tanker aircraft, which are powered by Pratt & Whitney engines. The agreement also mandates that the Secretary of the Air Force develop a complete, permanent solution to the KC-46 remote visual system (RVS) operation limitations, submitting the solution Congress no later than February 1, 2021.C-130H Modernization The measure continues Congressman Courtney's efforts to accelerate the modernization of the C-130H cargo aircraft fleet, like those flown by the Connecticut Air National Guard. In addition to fully supporting the efforts to upgrade and modernize the avionics of the fleet, the bill authorizes $134 million for additional upgrades for engines, propellers and other systems on the aircraft beyond the President's request.P-8 Poseidon The report authorizes $1.4 billion for 8 P-8Poseidonaircraft, the Navy's newest maritime, patrol and reconnaissance aircraft. This will bring the Navy closer to the warfighting requirement of 138 aircraft and ensure the continued modernization of the Navy Reserves' legacy P-3 fleet.KMAX Unmanned Helicopter The report authorizes $7 million to continue development of unmanned logistics capabilities with the CQ-24A helicopter manufactured by Bloomfield-based Kaman Aerospace.Navy Shipbuilding-- Overall, the report authorizes more than $22 billion to procure 9 new battle force ships, two more than the budget request, in. The budget requested one of the lowest levels of new ships in nearly a decade and did not include the long range shipbuilding plan required by law to provide insight into future plans to grow the fleet.Courtney pressed Defense Secretary MarkEsperon his failure to abide by the law in a hearing earlier this year. The final agreement also includes language Courtney authored to restrict some funding for the Office of Secretary of Defense until the 30-year shipbuilding plan is delivered, and prohibits the retirement of any Navy vessel until the Secretary of Defense provides a Navy force structure assessment.Recapitalization of our Domestic Sealift Capabilities The report includes several Courtney-led investments in the recapitalization of our domestic sealift and maritime response capabilities. These includes authorizing the purchase of additional used vessels to replace aging sealift ships but rejecting a Defense Department request to eliminate the requirement to initiate a domestic new build ship. The bill also authorizes a new Tanker Security Program to address the alarming gap in at-sea logistics, authorizes the fourth National Security Multi-Mission Vessel and authorizes a $180millionincrease in funding for the Maritime Security Program to address theimpactof COVID-19 pandemic on our domestic shipping fleet. Additional Courtney priorities included Rare Earth Minerals the report includes an amendment Courtney authored that requires the Secretary of Defense to prioritize the acquisition of strategic and critical materials from U.S. and allied sources ensuring the continued protection of our national defense supply chains. These types of minerals and materials are used in everything from cell phones to the joint strike fighter and a secured supply chain of these materials is of utmost importance to national security.Academic Partnerships for Undersea Research The report authorizes $10 million to support partnerships with academic institutions that conduct research on undersea unmanned warfare and energy technology, such as the National Institute for Undersea Vehicle Technology, a collaborative program between the University of Connecticut and the University of Rhode Island. During debate on the bill in the House, Courtney and Rep. James Langevin (D-RI) passed an amendment to increase funding for this effort from $5 million to $10 million.Joint Strike Fighter The report provides $8.7 billion for the procurement of 93 F-35s and includes additional flexibility to procure additional aircraft within the authorized amount if production savings are found and if prime suppliers remain on-schedule.UH-60Blackhawks The report authorizes nearly $1 billion for60UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters, an increase over the budget request, built by Sikorsky.CH-53KKing Stallion The report authorizes $800 million for procurement of 7 new Ch-53K Marine heavy-lift helicopters, built by Sikorsky.Combat Search and Rescue Helicopter The report supports the Administration's request for $909 million for procurement of 16 HH-60W Air Force search and rescue helicopters built by Sikorsky.VH-92A Presidential Helicopter The report supports the Administration's request for $589 million for procurement of 5 aircraft, which will be the next-generation presidential helicopter.Ukraine authorizes $250 million for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative.DODImpactAid authorizes $50 million for the DOD supplementalimpactaidprogram, which provides support to local school districts with high proportions of military children, including Groton public schools. This program is in addition to the primaryImpactAidprogram funded through the Department of Education, which does not fall within the jurisdiction of the House Armed Services Committee.Coast Guard Reauthorization the agreement includes the Coast Guard Reauthorization Act, bipartisan legislation to further strengthen our nation's Coast Guard by enhancing navigation and maritime safety, authorizing new family leave and child care policies, and increasing gender and racial diversity in the Coast Guard Academy in New London and across the ranks. Other Notable Provisions Renaming Confederate Military Installations The agreement includes an amendment that Courtney cosponsored that establishes an independent commission to make binding recommendations to the Secretary of Defense for the modification or removal of all names, symbols, displays, monuments, and paraphernalia that honor or commemorate the Confederate States of America or any person who served voluntarily with the Confederate States of America from all assets of the DoD.Limitations on Funds to Remove Active Duty Troops from Germany The agreement bars the Department from using any funds authorized by Congress to reduce the number of active duty troops stationed in Germany until DOD submits a report to Congress certifying that any reduction would not undermine the security of the U.S. or our allies in the region.BRAC The report does not authorize a base closing round.Military Pay Raise The report provides a 3.0% pay raise for the military, in line with a statutory requirement to keep pace with private sector wage growth.Agent Orange Exposure Benefits the report adds additional diseases to Section 1116(a)(2) of Title 38, USC including Parkinsonism, bladder cancer, and hypothyroidism to the list of diseases associated with exposure to certain herbicide agents. The report would also mandate that the Department of Veterans Affairs provide benefits to veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange and later diagnosed with these afflictions.Climate Change Resiliency The agreement requires a report updating Congress on the implementation of provisions from the FY2020 NDAA related to installation master planning, updates to installation building codes, sea-level rise modeling, and climate assessment tools. The final agreement would also require DoD to submit a report on its greenhouse gas emission for the last 10 years.Pacific Deterrence Initiative the report authorizes a new Pacific Deterrence Initiative to reassure allies and partners of U.S. commitment to the region and to enhance congressional oversight of military activities throughout the area of responsibility.Defense Community Infrastructure Program Authorizes $50 million for the program, allowing DOD to help states and local governments fund off-base infrastructure projects that support operations and the base community. Infrastructure improvements could include transportation projects, schools, first responder facilities, and utility projects. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |