Casten’s Clean Energy Amendment Passes as Part of House NDAA
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) voted to pass H.R. 4350, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2022, which authorizes the appropriations of funds for the Department of Defense (DoD). Casten secured the inclusion of his clean energy amendment in the final bill. Casten's amendment would require new construction of DoD buildings larger than 5,000 gross square feet to be zero emissions by 2035. It would also require a report on the status of the current DoD energy security goal which aims to have the agency produce or procure not less than 25% renewable energy by 2025.
DoD consumes more energy than any other federal agency – approximately 77% of the entire federal government's energy consumption – consuming roughly sixteen times that of the second-largest consumer in the federal government, the post office. These continued energy-use patterns by DoD increases overall energy costs, constrain DoD's autonomy and self-sufficiency, and leaves the agency more vulnerable to the physical impacts of climate change.
Casten said, "With the Department of Defense consuming 77% of all energy used by the federal government, I am proud to see my clean energy amendment pass in tonight's vote in the NDAA. This provision will make sure the Department of Defense is aligned with its current energy security and renewable energy goals to combat the climate crisis.
During my time in Congress, I vow to always advocate for a strong, smart national defense that prioritizes the wellbeing of our servicemembers and the American people. The security of our country should not be a partisan issue and I'm pleased my colleagues in the House passed this necessary legislation. I look forward to seeing my and other important climate provisions signed into law."
The Bill Contains Provisions that:
- Takes action on the climate crisis by requiring the DoD to consider climate risks in its strategic planning. The bill also includes provisions that would create new pilot programs like the sustainable aviation fuel program or tracking emissions at military facilities; training on climate issues for acquisitions staff; research and development investments in Net-Zero & Resilient Energy Installations and the Military Energy Resilience Catalyst
- Increases benefits for servicemembers and their families, including a 2.7% pay increase for service men and women, expanded parental leave, improved mental health care services and a new basic needs allowance for lower-income Servicemembers
- Makes historic changes to better combat sexual assault in the military, including removing the Commander from decisions related to the prosecution of sexual assault crimes and instead creating an Office of Special Victim Prosecutor to prosecute these crimes
- Establishes an Office of Countering Extremism to address risks posed by violent extremism and white nationalism
- Strengthens the provisions providing for the needs of our Afghan partners with Special Immigrant Visas holders by including $500 million for relocation efforts
- Addresses strategic and security challenges, ranging from competition with China to strengthening our cybersecurity infrastructure
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