Casten Votes to Strengthen National Security
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) voted to pass the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023, bipartisan defense legislation that strengthens America’s security and meets the needs of our servicemembers, veterans and military families.
"I am proud to have voted to pass the NDAA, which makes essential investments in our service members, innovation and technology, and allied partners,” said Rep. Sean Casten. “We must do everything we can to support our servicemembers and their families who make countless sacrifices so we can enjoy our freedoms.”
“When we invest in what makes America strong – from our technology to our alliances to our men and women in uniform – we make our nation safer and stronger. I’m pleased that this year’s NDAA also recognizes the threat that climate change poses to our national security, and takes action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from our military– including provisions from the bill I introduced alongside Senator Tammy Duckworth and Representative Jason Crow, the Depend on Domestic (DOD) Clean Energy Act. The security of our country should not be a partisan issue and I'm pleased we have passed this necessary National Defense Authorization."
Key Provisions in NDAA for FY 2023
- Supporting our servicemembers:
- Raises basic military pay for servicemembers.
- Adds funds to Basic Allowance for Housing.
- Expands options for childcare for our military families.
- Builds on efforts to address sexual harassment and assault in our armed forces.
- Supports suicide prevention and mental health services.
- Building national security resilience to climate change:
- Establishes a pilot program to expand other transaction authority for use on military installations to experiment with architecture and design methods for facilities to mitigate the effects of climate change and advance toward the DoD’s net-zero emissions goal.
- Establishes a prototype and demonstration program that designates installations as Energy Resilience Testbeds for the purpose of spurring innovation in energy resilience technologies.
- Establishes a pilot program for the use of sustainable aviation fuel within the DoD.
- Establishes a pilot program for the development of innovative electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
- Requires transition of DoD non-tactical vehicle fleets to electric or zero-emission vehicles by 2035.
- Requires the DoD to develop a policy for the recycling of spent advanced batteries.
- Requires the DoD to develop a plan for minimizing the impacts of the heat island effect on military installations.
- Requires the DoD to amend its building codes to consider the use of solar roofing in a building’s planning and design for the promotion of energy resiliency and grid support during energy disruptions.
- Continues efforts to address contamination associated around military installations and formerly used defense sites
- Investing in critical alliances and partnerships:
- More than $11 billion in funding for the Pacific Deterrence Initiative to carry out prioritized activities to enhance the United States’ deterrence and defense posture in the IndoPacific region, assure allies and partners, and increase capability and readiness in the Indo-Pacific region.
- Over $6 billion for the European Deterrence Initiative.
- $800 million in funding for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), which provides support and assistance to the Ukrainian Armed Forces and requires a comprehensive assessment of the oversight framework for U.S. assistance to Ukraine, and reaffirms the US commitment to the Ukrainian people and opposition to Russia’s continued invasion.
- Expresses congressional support for the U.S. defense relationship with Taiwan, requires additional measures to improve readiness related to Taiwan, and supports the use of joint military exercises with Taiwan.
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