On June 23, the House Armed Services Committee passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023 (H.R. 7900), by a strong bipartisan vote of 57 to one. Committee Chairman Adam Smith (D-WA) made the following comment upon passage: “This year’s defense bill builds on the Committee’s six-decade-long tradition of investing in the people, programs, and technologies that strengthen our common defense. At a time when democracies around the world face enormous challenges and unprecedented threats, we have sent a powerful, bipartisan message to our allies and partners, global competitors, and the American people: democracy still works – and it can deliver real results.”

H.R. 7900 includes the largest service member pay raise in decades. Other provisions of interest in the bill include: Requiring a Comptroller General review of the Administration’s implementation of the paid parental leave benefit for federal civilians, a benefit FMA helped achieve; an extension of DOD authority to grant allowances, benefits, and gratuities to DOD civilian personnel on official duty in a combat zone, an FMA issue brief; and, requires the Secretary of Defense to use available authorities to increase the use of incentive payments for civilian behavioral health providers.

FMA was heartened by the overwhelmingly bipartisan committee vote and Chairman Smith’s comments to his counterpart, Ranking Member Mike Rogers (R-AL), for his partnership and contributions to the bill. It is refreshing to see bipartisan collaboration in Congress, and FMA supports H.R. 7900 as the full House prepares to take up the bill.

To read more about H.R. 7900, please click here.