Chairman Smith Statement as the FY23 NDAA is Signed into Law
December 23, 2022
WASHINGTON, DC –Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, today issued the following statement after the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) was signed into law for the 62nd consecutive year by President Joe Biden. H.R. 7776, the bipartisan, bicameral final text of the FY23 NDAA, passed the House by a vote of 350-80 and the Senate by a vote of 83-11.
"For 62 consecutive years, the NDAA has served as the foundation of our national security priorities, fulfilling Congress’ sacred obligation to provide for the common defense of the American people. This year’s bipartisan bill builds on this tradition by nurturing the underlying sources of our national strength: our people, our economy, our alliances and partnerships, and our democracy.
"America’s global leadership is not only measured in our modern military capabilities but in our strength and vitality here at home. With this NDAA, Congress authorizes a 4.6 percent pay raise to offset inflation, lowers food prices by directing more funding to commissaries, raises the Basic Housing Allowance, expands eligibility for the Basic Needs Allowance, and enhances support for child care. The bill also reflects our belief that solving our toughest national security challenges requires a workforce that reflects the rich diversity of our country. Providing a record amount of funding for research and development at America’s HBCUs will expand the talent pipeline, empowering our best and brightest to deliver the cutting-edge technologies of tomorrow. The FY23 NDAA also prepares us to meet existential challenges like climate change, building on work in previous NDAAs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote clean energy, and enhance energy resilience within the military. This includes requirements to streamline the transition of DoD non-tactical vehicle fleets to electric or zero-emission vehicles by 2035 and establish a DoD sustainable aviation fuel pilot program.
"The bill further aligns U.S. national security policy with our democratic values of justice and accountability by creating a Civilian Protection Center for Excellence while funding the implementation of the Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Action Plan. Additionally, we build on the sweeping progress in last year’s NDAA to address sexual assault in the military -- now requiring independently trained investigators outside the immediate chain of command to investigate claims of sexual harassment. The United States has a moral and strategic responsibility to lead the global community by example, and I thank Congresswoman Jackie Speier for her steadfast leadership on this issue throughout her tenure on this committee.
"Stronger alliances and partnerships abroad further deepen our security at home. For months, President Zelenskyy and the people of Ukraine have inspired the world with their courageous fight for their freedom, sovereignty, and democracy. The United States continues to stand by Ukraine with greater assistance and funding in the FY23 NDAA. Additional investments in the European and Pacific Deterrence Initiatives also send a strong message to authoritarian competitors like Russia and the PRC.
"As I have said before, there’s a lot to be proud of in this bill. The FY23 NDAA includes important pieces of legislation like the Water Resources Development Act, Coast Guard Authorization Act, State Department Authorization Act, and Intelligence Authorization Act, all of which are critical to advancing American interests around the world. The included Federal Firefighters Fairness Act renews our investments here at home, delivering on our most solemn promise to care for those who put their lives on the line to protect our families. The FY23 NDAA also prepares us for the challenges of this decisive decade with the inclusion of a historic package of bipartisan bills focused on the ocean, coastal, and Great Lake conservation and science. I want to thank President Biden and everyone involved in this process for the open, bipartisan collaboration that has allowed us to produce an excellent NDAA."
Democratic-Led House Passes Bipartisan, Bicameral NDAA Agreement
December 8, 2022
WASHINGTON, DC – Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, today issued the following statement after the House of Representatives passed H.R. 7776, the bipartisan, bicameral text of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23), by a vote of 350-80.
"For the sixty-second consecutive year, Members of Congress have crossed party lines to deliver a defense bill that benefits those in uniform and advances the American people’s national security priorities. In the process, we’ve sent a powerful, bipartisan message to our allies and partners, global competitors, and the American people: democracy works and is essential to meeting the challenges of our time.
"This year’s NDAA reflects our enduring belief that people are the heart of America’s defense; investing in the foundation of our strengths here at home keeps us competitive abroad. The bill supports the largest pay raise since 2007 for service members, authorizes historic funding to the Historically Black Colleges and Universities driving research in science and technology, and sustains America’s innovation edge. It also expands cooperation with key allies and partners that share our values and ensures our national security policies align with our priorities, taking essential steps to address civilian harm.
"This bill represents compromise after months of hard work with colleagues on both sides of the aisle and in both chambers of Congress. Whatever our disagreements may be, there’s a lot to be proud of in this bill. As this legislation moves to the Senate, I thank my colleagues across the House and Senate Armed Services Committees for their thoughtful contributions to this agreement and its two underlying bills. I look forward to the swift passage of H.R. 7776 by the Senate and its signature by President Biden."
Background:
The FY23 NDAA invests in what makes America strong: our service members, alliances and partnerships, and our rich diversity. This year’s bill provides our service members with a 4.6 percent pay increase, increases the maximum allowable income to receive the Basic Needs Allowance, and adds funding to Basic Allowance for Housing. It takes full advantage of our diverse talent pool to address the threat of climate change and bolster energy resiliency across the Department of Defense while spurring innovation with new investments in the Historically Black Colleges and Universities delivering the technology of tomorrow. This legislation also delivers results for survivors of sexual assault in the military by further expanding reforms to the Uniform Code of Military Justice and reflects the values of the United States by creating a Civilian Protection Center of Excellence.
For the sixty-second consecutive year, Congress will enact essential legislation to fulfill its critical constitutional obligation to “provide for the common defense” by prioritizing quality-of-life improvements for our service members, diversifying our workforce, and ensuring our country has the right tools to out-compete the People’s Republic of China and contain Russia.
Read the Final Text Summary of the FY23 NDAA.
HASC, SASC Release Text of FY23 NDAA Agreement
December 6, 2022
WASHINGTON, DC – Representatives Adam Smith (D-WA) and Mike Rogers (R-AL), Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC), U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), today released the text of an agreement they have reached on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23).
“We are pleased to announce we’ve come to a bipartisan, bicameral agreement on this year’s National Defense Authorization Act. This year’s agreement continues the Armed Services Committees’ 62-year tradition of working together to support our troops and strengthen America’s national security. We urge Congress to pass the NDAA quickly and the President to sign it when it reaches his desk,” the members said.
The legislative text is available here:
The explanatory material to accompany the legislative text as filed in the congressional record can be found here.
This legislation is substantially based on two bills: (1) H.R. 7900, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023, which passed the House on July 14, 2022, by a vote of 329-101; and (2) S. 4543, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023, which was approved by the Senate Armed Services Committee on June 16, 2022, by a vote of 23-3.
Because enacting the NDAA in a timely manner is critical, the two bills were combined through a series of negotiations led by the leadership of the SASC and HASC. Negotiators considered proposals offered by members of both parties that were filed in the Senate and in the House of Representatives. The final text of the bill promotes resilience, innovation, and the right tools for U.S. success in strategic competition, and provides vital quality of life improvements for the backbone of America’s fighting force: Our servicemembers and their families.
Click here for the HASC summary of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023.
Smith Statement on the House Passage of FY23 NDAA
Democratic-Led House Passes Annual Defense Bill With Key Investments in U.S. National Security
JULY 14, 2022
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, today issued the following statement after the House of Representatives passed H.R. 7900, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23), by a vote of 329-101.
“For over six decades, the NDAA has served the American people as a legislative foundation for national security policymaking rooted in our democratic values. Today’s successful vote marks another chapter in that history – with considerable gains for those currently serving our country in uniform. Members across the House have worked together to advance reforms that benefit service members and their families, who are the foundation of America’s defense. Providing for our common defense remains a crucial responsibility for all Members of Congress, regardless of party, and it requires a collective commitment to our national security and to the American people’s defense priorities. This year’s defense bill fulfills that responsibility, meets that commitment, and reflects those priorities
“At a time when democracies worldwide face both old and new threats, the FY23 NDAA supports investments in what makes our country competitive around the world and strong at home: a diverse and talented military and civilian workforce; groundbreaking science and technology research, especially at Historically Black Colleges and Universities; and the alliances and partnerships we need to meet our biggest global security challenges. I am especially proud that this year’s bill supports those who defend our country by giving them the compensation they deserve with a 4.6% pay raise for service members and civilian personnel, as well as relief for their housing and other everyday costs. I am also glad that the NDAA includes a package of bold reforms to prevent and mitigate civilian harm in military operations.
“As the legislative process continues, I thank my House colleagues for their thoughtful contributions and support of this year’s NDAA. There’s a lot to be proud of in this bill, and the stakes for our country’s national security could not be higher.”
FY23 NDAA Floor Amendment Tracker
LAST UPDATED July 14 at 6:23PM ET
Click here to access the FY23 NDAA floor amendment tracker.
The House Armed Services Committee will maintain a dynamic floor tracker for amendments to the FY23 NDAA. The tracker will display a list of upcoming amendments and the order in which they will be considered, as well as a list of already-considered amendments and their outcomes. The list is for convenience purposes only and is subject to change.
Click here to explore amendments considered by the Committee throughout its June 22-3 markup of the FY23 NDAA.
Chairman Smith on the Armed Services Committee’s Passage of the FY23 NDAA
Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement after the Committee approved H.R. 7900, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023, by a bipartisan vote of 57 to one.
“This year’s defense bill builds on the Committee’s six-decade-long tradition of investing in the people, programs, and technologies that strengthen our common defense. At a time when democracies around the world face enormous challenges and unprecedented threats, we have sent a powerful, bipartisan message to our allies and partners, global competitors, and the American people: democracy still works – and it can deliver real results.
“There is much to be proud of in this bill, and I am grateful to my colleagues across the Committee for their expertise, advocacy, and support as we have crafted this year’s NDAA. The bill supports the largest service member pay raise in decades, expands the talent pipeline, and partners with research institutions to accelerate the development of cutting-edge technologies that will support those in uniform. I am particularly proud that this year’s NDAA includes a package of bold reforms that will help mitigate and prevent civilian harm in the course of military operations.
“Meeting our country’s future defense challenges requires rigorous debates and tough choices about what the Department of Defense and U.S. military need. Faced with these challenges, this Committee has once again delivered a result that, for whatever our disagreements may be, ultimately does right by service members, civilians, and their families – the heart of our country’s defense. I thank Ranking Member Rogers for his partnership throughout this process and his many contributions to this bill and look forward to our bipartisan collaboration as the NDAA advances to the House floor.”
Click here to read a summary of the FY23 NDAA prepared by Committee staff.
Full Committee Markup: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023
At 10:00am ET on June 22, 2022, watch live as the Committee begins hearing to mark up H.R. 7900, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23).
Click here to follow the Committee's amendments tracker on Twitter.
Part Two
Part One
Chairman Smith Releases Mark for FY23 NDAA
H.R. 7900 Prioritizes Investments in People, Technology, Allies, and Partners
Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, released his version of H.R. 7900, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23). The House Armed Services Committee will consider the Chairman’s mark on Wednesday, June 22, beginning at 10:00am ET.
“For over six decades, the NDAA has served the American people and their elected representatives in Congress as the primary legislative foundation for setting our country’s defense policies and priorities on a bipartisan basis,” Chairman Smith said. “This year’s NDAA brings together ideas from across the Armed Services Committee to strengthen U.S. national security by investing in the rich diversity of people who work to defend our country: service members and their families, civil servants across the Department of Defense, scientists and researchers, and the workers who power our defense industrial base. I am particularly proud that this year’s mark supports the highest pay raise for service members in decades, improves oversight for military family housing projects, and requires a report on a more fair and transparent way for the Department to calculate the basic allowance for housing.”
“Strategic competitors like Beijing and Moscow have threatened the security, freedom, and prosperity of people living around the world by seeking to erode the rules-based international order. This mark supports investments in the alliances and partnerships that the United States needs to help meet these challenges, including more than $6 billion in funding for the Pacific Deterrence Initiative and nearly $4 billion for the European Deterrence Initiative. The democratic values of the United States should inform our national security policies as both a strategic and moral imperative, which is why, among other things, the mark includes measures to address and mitigate civilian harm as a result of military operations. This mark will equip our country to meet its greatest national security challenges, and I look forward to its consideration before the full membership of our Committee.”
The text of the bill can be found here, and a summary can be found here.
Explore the HASC Subcommittee Marks of the FY23 NDAA
LAST UPDATED JUNE 9, 2022
Subcommittee on Cyber, Innovative Technologies, and Information Systems
- Click here to read the Subcommittee's mark.
- Click here to read the Subcommittee's mark as reported to the Full Committee.
- Click here to watch the Subcommittee's markup hearing on June 8.
Subcommittee on Strategic Forces
- Click here to read the Subcommittee's mark.
- Click here to read the Subcommittee's mark as reported to the Full Committee.
- Click here to watch the Subcommittee's markup hearing on June 8.
Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces
- Click here to read the Subcommittee's mark.
- Click here to read the Subcommittee's mark as reported to the Full Committee.
- Click here to watch the Subcommittee's markup hearing on June 8.
Subcommittee on Military Personnel
- Click here to read the Subcommittee's mark.
- Click here to read the Subcommittee's mark as reported to the Full Committee.
- Click here to watch the Subcommittee's markup hearing on June 8.
Subcommittee on Readiness
- Click here to read the Subcommittee's mark.
- Click here to read the Subcommittee's mark as reported to the Full Committee.
- Click here to watch the Subcommittee's markup hearing on June 9.
Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces
- Click here to read the Subcommittee's mark.
- Click here to read the Subcommittee's mark as reported to the Full Committee.
- Click here to watch the Subcommittee's markup hearing on June 9.
Subcommittee on Intelligence and Special Operations
Smith Introduces “By Request” Bill for FY23 NDAA
Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, introduced H.R. 7900, the “by request” version of the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), a procedural measure that traditionally marks the first step in the legislative process for the NDAA, on Friday, May 27, 2022.
The legislation filed this week does not reflect substantive work by the Armed Services Committee. Rather, provisions contained in the bill reflect legislative proposals submitted by the Department of Defense. When the Committee meets to consider the FY23 NDAA, the content of H.R. 7900 will be struck and replaced with subcommittee and full committee proposals.
The full text of H.R. 7900 can be found here.
Chairman Smith and Ranking Member Rogers Announce Markup Schedule for FY23 NDAA
Note: On May 25, 2022, and June 6, 2022, Chairman Smith and Ranking Member Rogers updated the full committee and subcommittee markup schedule for the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23). The below dates and times reflect their May 25 and June 6 updates.
Representatives Adam Smith (D-Wash.) and Mike Rogers (R-Ala.), Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee, have released the full committee and subcommittee markup schedule for the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23).
House Armed Services Committee panels will consider their contributions on the following days and times in 2118 Rayburn and via WebEx:
Wednesday, June 8, 2022
- 10:00am ET – Subcommittee on Cyber, Innovative Technologies, and Information Systems Markup
- 12:00pm ET – Subcommittee on Strategic Forces Markup
- 2:00pm ET – Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces Markup
- 3:30pm ET – Subcommittee on Military Personnel Markup
Thursday, June 9, 2022
- 8:00am ET – Subcommittee on Readiness Markup
- 9:00am ET – Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces Markup
- 10:00am ET – Subcommittee on Intelligence and Special Operations Markup
Wednesday, June 22, 2022
- 10:00am ET – Full Committee Markup
If the “covered period” designated by the Speaker pursuant to H. Res. 8 allowing for hybrid committee proceedings is extended to cover the dates listed above, then the subcommittee markups and the full committee markup will be held in the hybrid format. Further details and confirmation on the format will be forthcoming as information is made available.
Smith Statement on the Fiscal Year 2023 Defense Budget Request
Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement after the Biden-Harris administration released its Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) defense budget request:
“The United States, along with our allies and partners, faces a range of challenges both enduring and emerging, to our national security and President Biden’s FY23 defense budget reflects his administration’s efforts to meet those challenges. This budget request invests in science and technology research and development, alliances and partnerships, our men and women in uniform, and a range of other tools designed to keep our country safe and competitive.
“This budget maintains that deterring the Chinese military from aggressive activity in the Indo-Pacific region is the Department of Defense’s ‘pacing challenge.’ The United States must sustain a strong military deterrent so that Beijing chooses a peaceful path. I look forward to learning more from the Department’s leadership about how the investments in the FY23 defense budget proposal would sustain our military deterrent effectively and efficiently.
“The proposed FY23 defense budget from President Biden also takes into account two pressing challenges: the acute threat posed by Russia and the real cost of inflation for our military. The budget continues our strong support for Ukraine while also reassuring our NATO allies. When it comes to the effects of inflation, the President’s budget proposal includes additional funding to support the Department’s purchasing power and meet the unique challenges posed by inflation for our national security. Inflationary pressures affect different industries and goods in different ways, and the unique needs of the Department and U.S. military reflect that reality.
“We should not settle for a debate over how much money to allocate to the Department – focusing on the dollar amount alone misses the point entirely. Instead, we owe the American people a debate over how the Department spends resources to address our most significant national security challenges. I look forward to bipartisan discussions with the Department’s senior leadership about how this budget addresses the greatest threats to our defense, prioritizes efficiency and agility, aligns with key strategic planning documents like the new National Defense Strategy, and supports our service members and their families – who are the heart and soul of our national security enterprise.”
Community Project Funding Transparency
The House Committee on Armed Services provided House Members the opportunity to submit Community Project Funding requests for consideration as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023. Please find background information on the process and requirements for submissions here.
As part of the committee’s commitment to transparency, Members were required to post their Community Project Funding requests and certification of financial disclosure letters on their house.gov websites. In addition, the Committee on Armed Services has posted a list of all submitted requests publicly available here. The information contained in this document is as submitted to the committee by the Member and any questions about it should be directed to the Member office. Finally, this document also includes a link to the website provided by the Member office where they have publicly posted their requests.
Pursuant to clause 17(b) of House Rule XXIII, the Committee is required to make available for public inspection the following information for each Community Project Funding request included in H.R. 7900, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023: (1) the name of the member submitting the request; (2) the name and address of the intended recipient or, if none, the intended location of the activity; (3) the purpose of the request; and (4) the signed letter of certification that the member or their spouse has no financial interest in such request. This material, as submitted to the committee, can be found here. For the final FY23 NDAA, as passed by the House and Senate (H.R. 7776, the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023), this material can be found here.
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