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Sherrill Secures Passage of Bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act with Key Victories for Picatinny Arsenal, NJ-11

December 8, 2020

Washington, D.C. -- Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) voted today to secure passage of the bipartisan conference report of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2021. Representative Sherrill is a member of the House Armed Services Committee and of the bicameral conference committee which produced the report, which now awaits final passage by the Senate.

"This year's NDAA is a culmination of months of hard work and bipartisan compromise by both the House and Senate Armed Services Committees," said Rep. Sherrill. "I am proud of the work we have done, and believe that the final report represents a strong step forward for our service members, their families, and our national defense. The NDAA contains key provisions that bolster our response to the COVID-19 pandemic, shore up our small businesses, and protect our country's critical technological advantages. The legislation also includes many provisions that I fought for, including robust funding for projects at Picatinny Arsenal and advances in the Department of Defense's environmental sustainability."

Rep. Sherrill successfully included five amendments in the NDAA, including:

  • An amendment to extend the location adjustment to compensate for the increased building expense in Northern New Jersey, giving Picatinny Arsenal greater flexibility for construction projects;
  • An amendment to optimize the approval process for wind energy projects near military installations, streamlining our country's efforts to pursue sustainable energy;
  • An amendment to prioritize public-private partnerships with the Department of Defense that would bolster the fight against COVID-19 for both our service members and the general public;
  • An amendment to reauthorize the National Oceanographic Partnership Program, strengthening the federal government's ocean research;
  • An amendment that will establish an interagency effort to develop a variety of products needed to meet the Department of Defense's mission needs, including synthetic fuels, flame retardants, high-performance materials, and equipment to protect warfighters.

Key provisions of two bipartisan bills Rep. Sherrill introduced were included:

  • Body Armor for Females Modernization Act (H.R. 5491): Requires each department of the U.S. Armed Forces to provide specified data and assessment concerning personal protection equipment. In addition, the Defense Health Agency must track and report on injuries among service members during the use of such equipment;
  • National AI Research Resource Task Force Act (H.R. 7096): Establishes a task force to develop a roadmap for a national artificial intelligence (AI) research resource. This legislation will convene a group of technical experts across academia, government, and industry to develop a detailed plan for how the U.S. can build, deploy, govern, and sustain a national research cloud.

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. Rep. Sherrill fought for important funding and legislation to strengthen the Arsenal and give it the support necessary to continue its key mission.

  • Extends the location adjustment to compensate for the increased building expense in Northern New Jersey;
  • Authorizes study on optimizing the Department's explosive ordnance disposal, building on Picatinny Arsenal's construction of a $41 million EOD facility;
  • $5 million for the development of polymer-case ammunition, which will ease the burden on our warfighters and is being developed in conjunction with labs at Picatinny Arsenal;
  • $65.5 million for Long Range Precision Fires technology;
  • Language recognizing the importance of long-range artillery and shoring up the cannon tube industrial base;
  • $45 million to develop Long Range Precision Munitions.

Boosting Manufacturing and Research Jobs in the 11th District

  • $10 million in additional funding for additive manufacturing and 3-D printing crucial components;
  • $112 million for Long Range Anti-Ship Missiles;
  • $10 million in additional funding for development of the hypervelocity projectile being developed in conjunction with Picatinny Arsenal;
  • Strengthening the National Security Launch Agreement system, to the benefit of suppliers in NJ-11.

Supporting Service Members, Veterans, and Their Families

  • Establishes a 3% pay increase for service members;
  • Establishes a scholarship for service pilot program under the Department's Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) Defense Education Program for students at Minority Institutions to diversify and strengthen the national security workforce;
  • Establishes a 5-year pilot program to temporarily issue maternity uniforms to pregnant service members at no cost to the service member. Service members would return uniforms once no longer needed and DLA and the military departments would then repurpose them for reissuance to other service members;
  • Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to furnish childcare to each child of a member of the Armed Forces or civilian employee of the Department of Defense while that member or employee works on rotating shifts at a military installation;
  • Maternity leave taken by a member of the reserve components of the Armed Forces will now count toward the member's entitlement to retired pay;
  • 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 Department of Defense;
  • Creates a Chief Diversity officer of the Department of Defense and Senior Advisor for Diversity and Inclusions for each Military Service to include the Coast Guard;
  • Creates a task force to study and make recommendations on domestic violence within the military services.
Issues:Veterans