Senate Passes National Defense Authorization Act Containing Over $3.5 Billion in Hirono-Led Provisions to Strengthen National Security

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Chair of the Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support, voted to pass the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in the U.S. Senate, securing several key provisions for Hawaii and the Pacific region, U.S. military servicemembers, the Department of Defense’s (DOD) environmental initiatives, and the maintenance and modernization of DOD infrastructure. Senator Hirono’s provisions include over $1.7 billion for projects in Hawaii and more than $1.8 billion for projects throughout the Indo-Pacific region, while prioritizing environmental initiatives. The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 87-13 and now heads to the House for consideration.

“The Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act contains critical investments in our servicemembers, our national security, and the modernization of our aging DOD infrastructure to ensure our continued readiness,” said Senator Hirono. “As Chair of the Subcommittee on Readiness, I have worked to secure key provisions to modernize DOD infrastructure and support families and servicemembers in Hawaii and across the country. At a time of global instability, this NDAA is an investment in our national security and that of our partners and allies around the world. I was proud to vote to pass this year’s NDAA and look forward to it being signed into law.”

The FY 2024 NDAA includes several of Senator Hirono’s key priorities, including:

Investing in Critical Infrastructure

• Directs the Defense Department to develop a master plan to modernize critical infrastructure at military installations in the State of Hawaii.
• Requires the DOD to develop and implement a standardized system to measure and report on the condition of non-privatized critical infrastructure systems on military installations to better assess and invest in military facilities, including in Hawaii.
• Creates a pilot program to replace substandard enlisted barracks and a uniform condition index and certification of habitability for all unaccompanied housing.
• Authorize $150 million for a military construction pilot in the INDOPACOM area of operations which, along with expanded authority to conduct minor military construction, will help improve infrastructure and posture throughout INDOPACOM.
• Directs a study assessing the maintenance and modernization requirements at the Reagan Missile Defense Test Site on Kwajalein Atoll. The study will review the use of technologies to prevent corrosion damage and to reduce dependence on imported bulk fuel through use of renewable energy sources.
• Authorizes funds for a military construction pilot in the INDOPACOM area of operations which, along with expanded authority to conduct minor military construction, will help improve infrastructure and posture throughout INDOPACOM.
• Calls for the development of a plan to bring 5G telecommunication infrastructure to INDOPACOM installations.
• Includes an additional $69 million authorization for INDOPACOM planning and design, which will set up significant future infrastructure investment within the Pacific region.
• Authorizes an additional $62 million for INDOPACOM unspecified minor military construction projects.

Supports People

• Includes a 5.2 percent pay increase for military and civilian personnel, which is the highest pay raise in over 20 years for military members and over 40 years for our civilian team.
• Limits the DOD from making substantial cuts to the Overseas Cost-of-Living Allowances (OCOLA) and directs the Government Accountability Office to conduct a study on the fairness and equity of the processes used by the Department of Defense to determine (OCOLA) for service members.
• Continues the Hawaii delegation’s work to ensure the Department of Defense reviews and reports on its work connecting community members affected by the Red Hill Fuel leak with federal resources, and establishes a feasibility study for further research into the long-term health impacts of petroleum exposure.
• Affirms that military members and beneficiaries affected by the Red Hill fuel spill will be eligible to receive medical care from a provider that has received training on and has access to best practices for fuel exposure and will always have access to their documented exposure through their medical record.
• Requires DOD installations to have a liaison to Native Hawaiian Organizations for facilities in proximity with their interests when the DOD authorizes appropriations.
• Authorizes impact aid for schools with military dependent students and children with severe disabilities.
• Directs the DOD to update its strategic plan for the Combating Trafficking in Persons (CTIP) program to improve cooperation between relevant military departments and Federal, State and local law enforcement agencies and to review its methods for combating trafficking in persons to adapt new best practices.
• Improves on Senator Hirono’s work on the Stayskal Act by adjusting the DOD medical malpractice claims process to allow only board-certified physicians to provide expert medical opinions, to provide a claimant whose claim is denied with detailed reasoning justifying the denial, including access to the reports upon which the denial is based, and directs the military to report to Congress details of how each Service reviews medical malpractice claims.
• Encourages the Defense Department to work in conjunction the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide transition assistance, specifically as it relates to support and resources for veteran-specific mental health issues and calls on the Defense Department to examine skilled-trade and training programs that can be used to both support DOD workforce and assist transitioning servicemembers.
• Directs the Secretary of Defense to examine transition programs aimed at providing mental health support to transitioning service members and the feasibility of a study that would educate members on the specific mental health risks that can contribute to suicide.
• Supports the Defense Civilian Training Corp pilot, which modernizes and strengthens the DOD civilian pipeline, and recommends DOD include the Corp in the FY25 budget request.
• Directs the Defense Department to study whether offering no-cost cryopreservation services to military members would assist family planning and boost retention.
• Encourages the Defense Department to work in conjunction the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide transition assistance, specifically as it relates to support and resources for veteran-specific mental health issues.
• Requires a study on the consolidation or transfer of the space functions of the National Guard that must include a cost benefit analysis for each of the potential futures for these units: the creation of a Space National Guard, the status quo, or the transfer of these space functions into the Space Force.
• Extends the H-2B Visa program for admission to Guam or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands for certain non-immigrant workers through 2029.

Strengthen Our Ability to Protect the Pacific Region

• Directs the Defense Department to develop a plan for the missile defense of Hawaii as well as planning for military construction projects that will enable the timely deployment of air and missile defense capabilities across all locations in INDOPACOM.
• Recommends and provides the authority to allow the State Department and DOD to consult with the national security councils of the COFA States to increase partnership on emergency response, law enforcement, maritime security activities, and for enhancing resilience.
• Authorizes $1 billion in incremental funding for LPD-33 in order to support the Marine Corps’ future ability to deter aggression in the Pacific, respond to contingencies, and support humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.
• Authorizes the Commander of INDOPACOM to carry out exercises that will strengthen alliances and partnerships, deter aggression by adversaries, and allow the U.S. Armed Forces to coordinate and operate with foreign military partners in the region and included an additional $508.0 million for these activities - $360.0 million for the Army, $104.0 million for the Air Force, $8.0 million for the Marine Corps, and $36.0 million for the Navy.
• Recognizes the importance of land forces in the Pacific with an emphasis on the Army’s Multi-Domain Task Forces and Security Assistance Brigades along with the Marine Corps Marine Littoral Regiments.
• Grants special authorities for combatant commanders, including INDOPACOM, to request emergency, rapid contracting response.
• Encourages the Air Force to consider the training potential for F-22 Block 20 aircraft, which are currently flown by the Hawaii Air National Guard.
• Directs a report on the DOD’s efforts to support the tri-lateral agreement known as AUKUS by leveraging the expertise of U.S. public shipyards, including lessons learned from SIOP, to help improve Australian shipyards and worker training.
• Increases funding for Seabed Sensing and Threat Detection by $5 million.
• Funds Autonomous Long-Range Resupply with $2.5 million.

Delivering for Hawaii

• Continuing last year’s work, authorizes $18 million in additional funds for the Navy to pay for the cost to transfer customers off the Navy’s electrical system at Kalaeloa.
• Invests in DOD facilities in Hawaii to include funding for:
• $1.3 billion for the replacement of Dry Dock 3 at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.
• $60 million in planning and design (P&D) funds for the waterfront production facility at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.
• $16 million for a water storage tank at Schofield Barracks.
• $134 million for a water reclamation facility compliance upgrade at Marine Corps Base Kaneohe Bay.
• $23 million for a new water well and booster pump at Fort Shafter.
• $33 million for a water well and storage tank at Helemano Military Reservation.
• $20 million for a water storage tank at Aliamanu Military Reservation.
• $5.4 million in planning and design funds for an air traffic control tower at Wheeler Army Airfield.
• $7.4 million for to complete a 500-kilowatt solar covered parking lot and electric vehicle charging station at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.
• $21 million for an elevated water tank and distribution line at Schofield Barracks.
• $13 million to complete primary electrical distribution at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.
• $75 million for military housing restructuring at Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam.
• Authorizes $40 million for the procurement of a dual-use, FAA aviation safety and missile defense radar in support of the defense of Hawaii.
• Increases funding of the Shipyard and Ship Repair Workforce Training program beyond the President's Budget by $3 million.
• Added an additional $5 million above the President’s budget request to continue to the work of the Pacific Intelligence and Innovation Initiative (P3I), which creates a local skilled workforce to meet DOD demand for intelligence, IT, and cyber professionals in Hawaii.
• Amends acquisition regulations to require consideration of the past performance of small businesses when they bid on a Department of Defense contract, which will help small businesses in Hawaii grow their opportunities for work with the Department of Defense.

Prioritizing Sustainability

• Requires DOD to establish policies and procedures to identify, recycle, and reuse end-of-life equipment that contains rare earth elements and other strategic and critical materials.
• Directs the Army to provide a briefing on a strategy that focuses on the timely removal of unexploded ordnance at Waikoloa Maneuver Area near the Army’s Pohakuloa Training Area.
• Adds $20.2 million in additional funds to the Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration program (REPI), which has funded several projects in Hawaii since its inception.
• Facilitates a strategy for the rapid acquisition of the Army’s Tactical Wheeled Vehicle Program that includes vehicle electrification.
• Continues a pilot program on the increased use of sustainable building materials.
• Secured an increase in funding beyond the President’s budget for Bien Hoa dioxin cleanup in Vietnam.

With today’s passage of the Senate version, the bill now heads to the House for consideration. Once approved by both chambers, the bill will be sent to the President to be signed into law.

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