WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas (NH-01) issued the following statement after voting for the bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2021, legislation that makes key investments to improve the lives of servicemembers and military families, while also strengthening our national security:

“Today, I voted to advance a bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act that will provide for a strong national defense and keep our nation safe. This year’s authorization supports the men and women who serve our country by giving them a well-deserved pay raise, providing additional job training support to veterans transitioning to civilian life, and protecting the health of our Armed Forces by cleaning up PFAS on bases and strengthening DOD’s PFAS standards. This bill also takes much needed steps to strengthen our supply chains and support American manufacturers. Finally, I’m pleased that the authorization also includes substantial funding for ongoing projects at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. These investments will make New Hampshire and our nation safer and stronger, and I urge the Senate to quickly take up and pass this authorization.”

The bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act of 2021 includes a 2.7% raise for our servicemembers; prohibits debt collectors from targeting servicemembers with unfair or threatening debt collection practices; increases funding to mitigate undiagnosed, untreated traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress syndrome; makes historic changes to the Uniform Code of Military Justice to combat sexual assault in the military; and authorizes $1 billion in additional cybersecurity investments.

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Priorities Congressman Pappas fought for in the legislation include provisions to:

• Combat PFAS contamination by requiring DOD to follow state standards for clean-up of PFAS contamination when they are more strict than federal regulations, establishing a 2-year deadline for completion of PFAS testing at DOD and National Guard installations, and requiring DOD to report on the results of drinking and ground water testing and the status of clean up efforts and PFAS sites across the country.

• Support our veterans in the transition to civilian life through new job training programs and transition assistance.

• Secure $250 million in funding for the Multi-Mission Drydock #1 extension at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.

• Secure $224 million in funding for the Shipyard Investment Optimization Program (SIOP).

• Strengthen our defense supply chains by tightening restrictions on acquisition of certain technology that may be susceptible to interference by the Chinese government and supporting the development of reliable and effective technology in the United States.

• Require the Secretary of Defense to provide in-depth reports and briefings to Congress to ensure transparency and ongoing oversight of the security situation in Afghanistan.

• Recognize the men and women of the Armed Services for securing Hamid Karzai International Airport and supporting the largest noncombatant evacuation operation in United States history.

• Require the military to provide Reserve and National Guard service members incentive and special duty pays at the same rate as their active-duty counterparts.

• Secure $300 million in funding for Israeli Cooperative Programs.

• Create a grant program for increased cooperation on post-traumatic stress disorder between the United States and Israel.

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