releases: https://haaland.house.gov/media/press-releases/haaland-defense-bill-isn-t-perfect-includes-major-wins-new-mexico
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://haaland.house.gov/media/press-releases/haaland-defense-bill-isn-t-perfect-includes-major-wins-new-mexico | Haaland: Defense Bill Isn’t Perfect, But Includes Major Wins for New Mexico | 2019-12-12 | 2019 | 2019-12 | Democrat | House | NM | Debra Haaland | H001080 | haaland.house.gov | legacy | Washington D.C. Yesterday evening, Congresswoman Deb Haaland (NM-01), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, voted to pass the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 with major wins for New Mexico military families, federal public servants, New Mexico jobs, and military installations. The bill will now move to the U.S. Senate for final passage. After advocating back and forth, we came together to build consensus on a National Defense Authorization Act. Though the bill isn't perfect, it delivers major wins for New Mexico, and includes progressive provisions that will move our country toward paid family leave for all Americans, housing protections for military families, and a much needed raise for those who serve our country, said Congresswoman Deb Haaland. The final outcome of this bill explains whya change in leadership in the Senate and the White House is needed to pass all the protections and foreign policy provisions that were in the original HouseNDAA. After hearing about unsafe housing conditions from Kirtland Air Force Base (KAFB) families, Haalanddemanded answersduring a House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness hearing that covered the mismanagement of housing programs for military families. She laterintroduced a comprehensive billalong-side U.S. Senator Warren (D-Mass.) to address unsafe military housing. Several provisions from that bill were included in the finalNDAA. TheNDAAalso includesmajorprogressive provisionsto strengthen economic security for families across the countryby providing 12 weeks of paid family leave for all federal public servants in the case of birth, adoption, or fostering.This bill finally repeals the Widow's Tax, ensuring that families of servicemembers who make the ultimate sacrifice for our country receive their full survivor's benefits.Haaland also foughtfor a 3.1 percent raisefor all Service members, which is thelargest raise in a decade to increase financial security for military families. Haaland served as a conferee during theNDAAconference process. A full list of provisions that will bolster New Mexico jobs, military housing protections, contamination clean up, and military resilience in the face of climate threats is below: Supporting Jobs at New Mexico Military Installations and National Labs Targeted apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs that utilize local high schools, community colleges, universities, and other higher education institutions and workforce intermediaries, working in partnership with localmilitary installations,national laboratories and National Nuclear Security Administration sites, to fill skills gaps in critical sectors of the workforce, so New Mexicans have access to good paying jobs. Combat mission helicopter simulator to enhance Kirtland Air Force Base training operations Require a report of additional options for achieving deployable flying missions in each of the 54 National Guard organizations; Replacement to Kirtland Air Force Base helicopter storage facility Air Force plan to leverage commercial investments to integrate launch capabilities for small satellites and space assets for the Department of Defense and Kirtland Air Force Base Establishment of the White Sands National Park in the State of New Mexico Housing Protections for Military Families Requiresthe military services to implement a tenant bill of rights for military residents of privatized military family housing; Creates a public database for complaints related to military housing, requires annual financial audits of randomly selected privatized military family housing, and annual congressional reports on the condition, maintenance, and management of privatized military family housing. DirectsSecretaries of the military departmentsto reporton the manpower requirements and execution plan to staff military housing offices and headquarters to fill gaps in oversight personnel; Prohibits the use of non-disclosure agreementsin connection with entering into, continuing, or terminating a lease for on-base military housing. Authorizes an additional $140.8 million to hire additional civilian personnel to improve oversight and management of military family housing. Requires the Department of Defense to develop a health and safety hazard assessment tool for housing and provide a summary report to potential occupants Contamination Cleanup for New Mexico Communities Requiresthe Air Forceto report the progress made to remediate contaminated soil and groundwaterat KAFBand detail the Air Force plans to engage and coordinate with local water utility authority, State environmental agencies, and surrounding communities; Periodic health assessments and physical examinations provided by the Department of Defense include specific information related to exposure to burn pits, toxic airborne chemicals, and other airborne contaminants; Blood testing for each Department of Defense firefighter during the annual physical exam to determine and document potential exposure to PFAS chemicals; Assistance for New Mexico dairy farmers affected by PFAS contamination Military Resilience Facing Climate Change Threats Updates to building practices and standards to promote military installation resilience, energy and climate resilience, and cyber resilience; Briefing on efforts and opportunities to reduce expenditures on, and waste from, single-use plastics within the armed forces; Authorizes $100 million, $25 million above the budget request, for the Readiness and Environmental Protection Initiative (REPI), supports land conservation efforts in cooperation with local communities to prevent incompatible development around military bases and ranges; Authorizes $283 million, an additional $133 million,for military construction projects that improve energy resiliency or energy conservation efforts at a military installation. Requires DOD develop installation master plans that assess current climate vulnerabilitiesand plan for mitigating the risks to installations from extreme weather events, mean sea level fluctuation, wildfires, flooding, and other changes in environmental conditions using projections from recognized governmental and scientific entities. Tribal Protections Updates to Department of Defense tribal consultation measures, so that impacts to tribal communities from Department of Defense construction projects are considered earlier in the approval process Improves the Native Contracting program by removing barriers that had previously impeded Tribes and tribal organizations from accessing Department of Defense contracts Military Sexual Assault Utilizing best practices to standardize sexual assault prevention and response training across services | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |