Rep. Sherrill Secures Key Victories for NJ-11 in Final Passage of 2023 Bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act

Washington, DC– Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) voted to secure final passage of the bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023. Congress is required to pass the NDAA each year to establish defense priorities, make organizational shifts to military posture, and provide guidance on how military funding can be spent. 

 “Today, I joined my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to pass the NDAA, a bill that will deliver a stronger national defense and support our men and women in uniform,” said Rep. Sherrill. “This defense legislation brings our hard-earned tax dollars back to the district to provide robust investments in Picatinny Arsenal, which will not only make our military more effective and innovative, but will also bring more highly paid jobs into North Jersey. The 2023 NDAA also includes several provisions I introduced to mitigate the impact of climate change on national security, reduce the Department of Defense's emissions, and enhance our energy independence. While our nation’s military confronts numerous national security threats, including Putin's unprovoked war against Ukraine, this legislation has never been more important. 

 “As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I also have the ability to secure important New Jersey priorities in this annual must-pass legislation,” Rep. Sherrill added. “I am proud to have secured the inclusion of the Daniel Anderl Judicial Security and Privacy Act in the NDAA, which will provide long overdue protections for federal judges and their immediate families. I urge the Senate to swiftly vote on this bipartisan NDAA and bring these wins to the President’s desk for his signature.”

Representative Sherrill helped secure inclusion of three bipartisan bills into the final NDAA with Republican support:

• The Water Resources Development Act 
• The Daniel Anderl Judicial Security and Privacy Act
• The Stop Russian Gold Act

 Strengthening Picatinny Arsenal

Picatinny Arsenal, located in the 11th District of New Jersey, is a premier center of the military's innovation and modernization of armaments and ammunition and a critical player in the development of next-generation technology for the Department of Defense. It is the 11th District's largest employer and contributes more than $1 billion to New Jersey's economy. 

 Thanks to the leadership of Congresswoman Sherrill, the FY23 NDAA includes more than $152 million above the President’s budget request for Picatinny programs. The additional funding for the following programs include:

• An increase of $25 million for Collaborative Networked Armament Lethality and Fire Control, which will better enable our warfighters to coordinate the fight;
• An increase of $21.4 million for ERCA autoloader development, which will enable Picatinny to continue to refine one of its signature platforms;
• An increase of $5 million for Additive Manufacturing in Ship Concept Advanced Design, which will allow the Navy to develop standards for additive manufacturing;
• An increase of $5 million for Turret Gunner Survivability and Simulation, which will allow the Army to better protect soldiers manning gun turrets;
• An increase of $24 million for Distributed Aperture Infrared Countermeasure Systems, which allow the military to better defend rotary-wing aircraft from missile attacks; 
• An increase of $5 million for improvements to weapons and munitions design and manufacturing; 
• An increase of $5 million for the Extended Range Artillery munitions suite; 
• An increase of $282 million for ammunition procurement and modernization of ammunition production facilities, a process overseen by Picatinny. 

 As a member of the Armed Services Committee, Rep. Sherrill was also able to secure key funding for Picatinny Arsenal priorities, including:

• $134.68 million for 155MM Self-Propelled Howitzer Improvements
• $79.78 million for Long Range Precision Fires Technology, $34 million above the President’s request
• $166.2 million for Long Range Precision Fires Advanced Technology, $66 million above the President’s request
• $202.8 million for the Next Generation Squad Weapon
• $26.6 million for the Multi-Role Anti-Armor Anti-Personnel Weapon
• $117.7 million for research into applied lethality technologies, a key part of Picatinny’s research enterprise, $30 million above the President’s request
• $240 million for research into advanced lethality technologies, a key part of Picatinny’s research enterprise.

 Combating Climate Change and Protecting the Environment and Community Health

Climate change poses strategic risks to our national security, having broad and costly impacts on the U.S. military and its missions. Rep. Sherrill ensured inclusion of key priorities to combat the effects of climate change and strengthen environmental protections, including:

• Provisions to establish microgrid technical standards and urge the use of microgrids on every Navy and Air Force installation by 2035;
• Building code amendments for DOD to consider use of integrated solar roofing, a product manufactured by an NJ-11 company that increases zero-emission electricity;
• A provision urging the Departments of the Army, Navy, and Air Force to achieve 100% carbon pollution-free power generation;
• Plans to stop use of energy from foreign sources of concern, including of Russian energy on U.S. bases in Europe;
• A provision requiring the Department of Defense to develop a plan to increase its use of local plants, localized water management, and sustainable ground cover to lower emissions and energy costs;
• Provisions to invest in the removal and remediation of toxic PFAS forever chemicals;
• A provision creating a pilot program to investigate how to develop renewable and sustainable aviation fuel; 
• A pilot program to transition certain Defense Department vehicles to electric vehicles and government-wide strategy to manage and recycle EV batteries across the federal fleet; and
• Requirements for DOD to improve the conditions of military family housing, especially with respect to contaminants such as mold and lead.

 Mitigating climate change and achieving energy security here at home go hand-in-hand. Rep. Sherrill was proud to support significant reforms to reduce our reliance on foreign energy – including a provision that would direct the Defense Department to eliminate any reliance on Russian-produced energy.

 Rep. Sherrill offered and successfully secured inclusion of 5 amendments to the NDAA, including:

• Urging the Army, Air Force, and Navy to install microgrids on 100% of military bases by 2035;
• Directing the Air Force to explore current practices for mental health assessments and crew fatigue prevention for pilots of remotely piloted aircraft;
• Requiring the DOD to direct the Commander of United States Indo-Pacific Command to conduct training exercises with covered defense partners of the United States to deter China from attacking Taiwan;
• Studying how best to maximize the benefits military parents have earned – especially when it comes to affordable, reliable childcare for their children;
• Urging the Army, Air Force, and Navy to transition to 100% carbon pollution-free power generation by 2040;

 The NDAA supports servicemembers and their families, by:

• Authorizing funding to support a 4.6 percent pay raise for both military servicemembers and the DOD civilian workforce;
• Authorizing additional funding to address the effects of inflation on compensation;
• Broadening the reach and impact of the Basic Needs Allowance by increasing the eligibility threshold and allowance size from 130% of the Federal poverty line to 150% of the Federal poverty line as a baseline, and authorizes the Secretary of Defense to increase this benefit to 200% of the poverty line when appropriate;
• Creating an open season during calendar year 2023 for eligible retired or former members to opt in or out of the Survivor Benefit Plan;
• Establishing a pilot program to reimburse military families for certain childcare costs related to a permanent change of station;
• Ensuring servicemembers have access to quality housing, including by: extending the authority to adjust the basic allowance for housing (BAH) in high-cost areas; encouraging DOD to coordinate efforts to address housing shortages; and codifying that the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and Environment should serve as the Chief Housing Officer.

Rep. Sherrill is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and served in the Navy for almost 10 years as a helicopter pilot and Russian policy officer. As a Russian policy officer, she worked on the implementation of our nuclear treaty obligations and oversaw the relationship between the U.S. Navy and Russian Federation Navy. She now serves on the House Armed Services Committee, where she serves on the Tactical Air and Land Forces and Intelligence and Special Operations Subcommittees.