Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata welcomed  yesterday bipartisan Senate passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2022, sending the major legislation to President Biden to be signed into law. 

This Act, passed last week by the House of Representatives, raises military pay by 2.7 percent, building on previous pay increases in this yearly legislation in recent years. Much like the House vote, the Senate vote on Wednesday had a bipartisan margin of 88-11.

The $770 billion NDAA authorizes the Pentagon’s yearly operations in total. Pacific security sections include $7.1 billion for the Pacific Deterrence Initiative, U.S. commitment to a free and open Pacific region, and provision for an Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security. Congress has completed the NDAA for 61 straight years, a bipartisan achievement based on the necessity of providing for the common defense of the country.

 “Congratulations to our people serving in the military, as you deserve this pay raise and more, and I know the nation appreciates our troops and military families so much,” Amata said. “Congress emphasized Pacific security, U.S. investment in the region and the value of our national partnerships.”

The NDAA provides for our Armed Forces personnel; military construction and housing; weapons systems and modernization; equipment and training; health care for the military, expanded mental health assistance at bases; cybersecurity provisions; research and development; national security programs in the Department of Energy; and combating sexual assault. It establishes an independent commission to study the 20 years of war in Afghanistan.

AMATA’S LEGISLATION INCLUDED IN LAW

The measure includes two specific provisions through Congresswoman Amata’s leadership – a small business bill which she sponsored, and another on which she was the lead cosponsor with Congresswoman Katie Porter (D-California).

That Porter-Radewagen amendment identifies reports to declassify regarding the Runit Dome and nuclear waste measures in the Marshall Islands with the goal of protecting the health and safety of the Marshallese people, and preventing ocean pollution. The Runit Dome houses nuclear waste material from 67 nuclear tests conducted in the Marshall Islands before 1958. “Preventing ocean pollution at the site is in everyone’s best interest, and the Marshallese people deserve this attention to their safety,” Amata said. 

Also, Amata introduced the bipartisan Parity for HUBZone Appeals Act (H.R. 8229) in June to reform how small business appeals in the HUBZone program are handled to ensure a fair and transparent process. “HUBZones level the playing field for remote or economically challenged areas, such as American Samoa,” she concluded.