NDAA Markup Includes Key Provisions Championed by Congresswoman Escobar
Late last night, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) and her House Armed Services Committee (HASC) colleagues unanimously advanced the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2021 which includes several key provisions introduced and championed by Congresswoman Escobar.
“This year’s NDAA comes at a pivotal time for our nation, and I am proud to have worked to craft and support legislation that strengthens our national security while supporting our military’s ability to respond to COVID-19, confronting our nation’s history, and fostering diversity,” said Congresswoman Escobar. “Although this legislation is not perfect and there is still much work to be done to increase accountability and honor our values, it sends a strong message in support of our men and women in uniform in El Paso and across the globe.”
Below is an overview of some of the key FY21 NDAA provisions authored and championed by Congresswoman Escobar:
Prevents Infant and Maternal Mortality:
This bipartisan provision draws on the military health system’s achievements of improved health outcomes for mothers and infants. Congresswoman Escobar’s provision authorizes the Department of Defense (DoD) to share with state and local health authorities information on infant and maternal health care practices in order to address the United States’ infant and maternity health crisis that could be exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic. This provision is based on the Defeat Infant and Maternal Mortality Act (DIMMA), which was introduced by Congresswoman Escobar in April 2020.
Eliminates Persistent Stigma Against Mental Health:
Congresswoman Escobar authored a provision to help Congress assess whether current military accession policy harms efforts to eliminate persistent stigma against those seeking mental health care. This provision directs the Secretary of Defense to submit a report detailing how frequently recruits are disqualified for mental health reasons; how often requested waivers are granted for this issue; and for recruits who were discharged, an indication of whether the condition impacted performance during training. The report will also indicate the prevalence of enlistees who were military dependents to ensure they are not disproportionately affected by current policy.
Supports for UTEP and Other Research Institutions:
Congresswoman Escobar authored language establishing a National Institute for Space Research as a university consortium in support of the newly established Space Force. This ensures our military’s newest service gets the same excellence in research that universities, like the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), provide as partners in national security. This provision engages universities with significant expertise in aerospace and defense competencies and creates new opportunities for our clearance-ready, advanced student population.
Expands Advanced Manufacturing in El Paso:
Additive manufacturing holds immense promise for the military and the El Paso region, that is why Congresswoman Escobar worked to ensure a $5 million authorization to expand additive manufacturing training at UTEP’s W.M. Keck Center.
Invests in Critical Mobilization Infrastructure at Fort Bliss:
Congresswoman Escobar fought to include a provision to prioritize mobilization infrastructure investments at Fort Bliss and other primary power projection platforms. Substantial infrastructure investment will ensure Fort Bliss remains viable to mobilize forces for critical overseas contingency operations.
Promotes Installation Resiliency:
Congresswoman Escobar championed a provision requiring the Department of Defense to provide a report on water and sewage resiliency at Fort Bliss and other military installations. This report will include the degree to which the Department has assessed the resiliency of these systems, opportunities for public-private partnerships, and barriers to addressing water and sewage resiliency gaps.
Promotes Oversight:
Congresswoman Escobar championed the inclusion of a number of reporting requirements for the Government Accountability Office to assist the committee with oversight on topics that include F-35 operations and sustainment, Air Force use of contract air support services, aviation and ship maintenance, Dynamic Force Employment, and Coast Guard Reimbursement for Defense Activities.
Boosts Diversity and Inclusion:
Congresswoman Escobar championed several provisions to promote and foster diversity within the military. One such provision would bring visibility to gender and race demographics in promotion lists submitted to the Senate. Another would establish a program to enhance the participation of Department of Defense contractors in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics activities at Minority Serving Institutions, and standardizing, collecting, and analyzing information on the demographics of applicants to military service academies. Additionally, Congresswoman Escobar supported a provision to rename installations named after Confederate military commanders, including Fort Hood in Texas.
Prevents Sexual Assault:
Congresswoman Escobar joined Military Personnel Subcommittee Chairwoman Speier in championing a provision to create a prosecution pilot program at the Military Service Academies. This provision would demonstrate whether assigning charging decisions for sexual assault and other special victims’ crimes to an independent expert outside of the chain of command would increase the willingness of survivors to report and the ability of the military justice system to hold perpetrators accountable.
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