Congressman Rob Wittman (R-VA), vice chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, signed the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Conference Report. The conferenced NDAA includes major wins that Rep. Wittman championed and supported, which will enable the U.S. military to modernize weapons systems to combat the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) increasing military aggression in the Indo-Pacific.
“As America faces unprecedented threats from adversaries across the globe, we are stepping up to provide our military with the tools and resources it needs to maintain American dominance and to remain the most lethal fighting force in the world,” said Rep. Wittman. “I’m pleased to see the conferenced version of this year’s NDAA includes many of my provisions to support our military families through mental health resources, boost defense innovation, ensure accountability in foreign security aid, and strengthen our naval fleet.”
Rep. Wittman signs the FY24 NDAA Conference Report.
In addition to serving as vice chairman of the full committee, Rep. Wittman serves as chairman of the prominent Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee, which oversees the military’s sprawling modernization efforts and plays an integral role in crafting the annual NDAA.
The congressman was appointed a core conferee to negotiate the House and Senate versions of the NDAA. The House and Senate reached agreement on the following of Rep. Wittman’s priorities:
Enhancing U.S. Tactical Air and Land Forces
Nearly doubles Army ground modernization by authorizing appropriations for 53 additional Abrams tanks, 47 Stryker vehicles, and 11 M109 Paladin howitzers over the budget request
Accelerates the Joint Strike Fighter and NGAD engine modernization
Authorizes the retirement of early model F-15s and A-10 aircraft
Rejects an Air Force request to retire combat relevant F-22 Block 20 aircraft early
Encourages the Navy to expeditiously conclude contract negotiations on 20 F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet aircraft previously authorized and appropriated
Establishes a Naval Air Warfare Rapid Capabilities Office to accelerate naval aviation emerging innovation and capabilities
Ensures an analysis of alternatives will be completed before further development of the Army’s Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft program
Expands weapons lethality by establishing a Joint Energetics Transition Office
Requires lethality be considered in future weapons decisions
Requires implementation of CL20 energetics pilot program
Limits sourcing of munition materials from Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea
Establishes Department of Defense (DoD) roles and responsibilities for managing combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control (CJADC2) implementation
Countering CCP Aggression
Provides for the implementation of the AUKUS agreement between the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia and authorizes the eventual transfer and sale of Virginia-class attack submarines to Australia
Increases funding for innovative new technologies needed to deter the CCP on future battlefields, including AI, autonomous systems, cyber, mobile micronuclear reactors, and high energy lasers
Withholds Navy funding until it submits a plan to expedite the delivery of coastal defense missiles to Taiwan
Requires DoD to provide plans to enhance the U.S. security relationship with Japan, India, Taiwan, and other Indo-Pacific partners
Providing For Service Members and Military Families
Authorizes license portability for mental health professionals who provide non-medical counseling services
Cultivating Defense Innovation
Establishes the Office of Strategic Capital and a pilot program to give loans for specific emerging technologies that are foundational warfighter technologies
Codifies the Defense Innovation Unit as a principal staff assistant to the Secretary of Defense to scale its ability to bring private sector innovation into the DoD
Creates a pilot program to promote better business practices at the DoD through consumption-based solutions
Military and Industrial Base Readiness
Prohibits the decommissioning of four battle force ships with years of service life remaining
Establishes a grant program to expand capacity at private shipyards building Navy ships
Provides multi-year procurement for domestically produced rare earth elements and requires DoD to assess ways to increase stockpiles of rare earth minerals
Establishes a critical reserve of long-lead items and components to provide the capability to quickly assess the required components to accelerate the delivery of munitions
Increases investment in the Army Ammunition Plants to expand domestic munition production capacity
Requires DoD to report to Congress on foreign control and influence over the supply chain for critical minerals, metals, supplies, services, and materials used for defense technologies
Oversight and Accountability
Creates a Special Inspector General to oversee all U.S. security assistance to Ukraine and to thoroughly investigate any instance of waste, fraud, abuse, corruption, or diversion of weapons
Securing America’s Border
Requires an interagency strategy to target, disrupt, and degrade threats to national security caused by fentanyl trafficking
Defending Israel
Requires the Secretary of Defense to consider deploying KC-46 refueling tanker aircraft to Israel and consult with Israel on the potential for rotational deployments of U.S. KC-46 aircraft in Israel
Strengthening Strategic Deterrence
Establishes the nuclear Sea-Launched Cruise Missile as an official program of record, rejecting the Biden administration’s request to cancel the program
