Luján Statement on Senate Passage of the National Defense Authorization Act

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) issued the following statement on the Senate passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA): 

“This year’s NDAA reflects a bipartisan commitment to ensuring our Armed Forces, national security, and broader national defense remain strong and ready to meet today’s complex challenges. New Mexico’s military installations and National Laboratories play a pivotal role in protecting our national security, and this legislation ensures these critical facilities have the resources and support they need to keep Americans safe.

“As we face growing threats around the globe, this legislation directs critical investments toward national security priorities that safeguard our nation. From providing much-needed pay raises for our men and women in uniform to boosting research and development capabilities at our National Laboratories, this year’s NDAA provides critical investments for New Mexico.”

Senator Luján helped secure the following provisions in the NDAA:

Supporting Our Military Personnel:

• Provides a 3.8% pay raise for military service members;
• Requires DOD to document all servicemember radiation and toxic exposures, including those that occur domestically, so our veterans can be seen by the VA after they’ve separated from the military;
• Supports Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) crews like those stationed at Holloman and Cannon Air Force Bases by recognizing their combat participation and enabling access to combat-related mental health services.

Boosting Energy Security and our National Laboratories:

• Authorizes $24.9 billion for the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) to support and sustain its system integration, engineering, and science programs;
• Authorizes $7 billion for DOE’s defense environmental cleanup activities, including $278.2 million for Los Alamos National Lab and $1.03 million for Sandia National Labs to support defense-related environmental cleanup, and authorizes $415.4 million for the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP);
• Authorizes $47.2 million for the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board;
• Requires the Secretary of Energy to brief Congress on actions that can be taken to accelerate cleanup milestones with the State of New Mexico at Los Alamos National Laboratory, including the hexavalent chromium plume.

Protecting Against Threats From China:

• Prohibits the Secretary of Defense from directly or indirectly acquiring computers or printers manufactured by covered Chinese entities;
• Protects against China buying land near U.S. military bases.

Streamlining Investment for our Border Communities:

• Includes a provision to expedite the presidential permitting process for all international bridges and land ports of entry. This is based on Senator Luján’s bipartisan International Bridge and Port of Entry Modernization Act.

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