Congressman Lamborn Secures Big Wins for the Pikes Peak Region in the FY23 National Defense Authorization Act

Washington, D.C.- Today, Congressman Lamborn took part in the House Armed Services Committee mark-up of the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

After a seventeen-hour marathon markup, filled with debate and negotiation reviewing over 2,000 submitted amendments, the House Armed Services Committee passed the Fiscal Year 2023 NDAA by a vote of 57-1.

The FY23 NDAA passed with a much-needed topline amendment that increased funding by $37 billion dollars for a total topline of $850 billion. This topline increase proposal is necessary to keep pace with evolving threats to our national security and to address the current inflationary pressures impacting the Department of Defense.

The markup increased funding to help counteract the inflationary pressures impeding our national defense and continued the 60+ year long tradition of maintaining our military's readiness and preparedness.

It includes highlights such as:

-$1.4 billion to address inflation-related personnel bonuses, and additional housing and commissary support;
-$3.5 billion to address military construction (MILCON) inflation costs;
-$2.5 billion to offset the costs of fuel inflation;
-A 4.6% pay increase for our troops and an additional 2.6% for those making less than $45,000 annually;
-An additional 2% increase for basic allowance for housing (BAH);
-$1.7 billion in facilities maintenance and restoration to support service members' quality of life.

Upon passage, Congressman Lamborn, Ranking Member of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee, released the following statement:

"I was pleased to vote for the FY23 National Defense Authorization Act and see this markup continue the tradition of passing through the House Armed Services Committee in a bipartisan manner. This legislation will strengthen our national security, increase pay and housing allowances for our service members, address rising inflation costs and concerns, and bring hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of economic growth and investment to Colorado's Fifth Congressional District.

"This bill will increase the Defense topline by $37 billion, providing our troops with the resources they need to execute the missions they've been assigned, and correcting President Biden's inadequate defense budget.

"Additionally, this bill solidifies our community's place as the epicenter of America's national security space enterprise and puts our country on the right foot to compete with and deter China."

"Although this markup is not perfect, it is a significant step towards meeting the needs of our military and ensuring that our men and women in uniform have what they need to serve and defense our nation. I look forward to improving this bill on the House Floor in July."

Congressman Lamborn secured many significant amendments, initiatives, and debates for the Pikes Peak region and the U.S. military that will:

-Fund the continued development of operational facilities for USSPACECOM and the National Defense Center in Colorado Springs;
-Establish the creation of a Space National Guard with Congressman Jason Crow, keeping space guard missions in Colorado (Colorado has more National Guardsmen conducting space missions than any other state in the nation);
-Fund $65 million to support cold weather gear for U.S. Army forces responsible for training and fighting in Arctic conditions, including those at Fort Carson;
-Give support for domestic sourcing for space systems and ground components, many of which are built or sustained along the Front Range of Colorado;
-Require the Secretary of Defense to establish strategic objectives and a plan for how the U.S. Space Force will support the global requirements of the joint forces;
-Fund the U.S. Space Force so it may continue with necessary upgrades for space tracking and catalog management systems;
-Require the development of a plan for Secretary of Defense to prioritize spacecraft servicing for existing on-orbit systems;
-Establish a National Hypersonic Initiative and funding for over $600 million to accelerate testing and development of hypersonic systems, including advanced defensive capabilities;
-Require the Department of Defense to seek methods to enhance cooperation with Israel in space operations and missile defense;
-Hold the Biden administration accountable in their commitment to continue developing the next phase of our critical nuclear deterrence systems, including research and development funds for the nuclear sea-launched cruise missile that the administration recently attempted to cancel;
-Fund the research and development of future mobile nuclear microreactors that will create energy independence for rapidly deploying forces;
-Fund programs that support and develop advanced and resilient missile warning and tracking sensors intended to counter growing threats from our near-peer adversaries, China and Russia;
-Require the Department of Defense to support a robust and reliable industrial base for the production of rare and strategic minerals and technologies in the United States;
-Require the Department of Defense to report to Congress on plans to address hard and deeply buried target requirements following retirement of the B83 gravity bomb.

The National Defense Authorization Act is annual legislation that Congress passes each year to make changes to the policies and organization of United States defense agencies and provide guidance on how military funding may be spent. Though funding for the U.S. military must be approved through appropriation bills, Congress uses the NDAA to establish defense priorities, make organizational changes to military agencies, and provide guidance to the Department of Defense.

In addition to the Department of Defense, the legislation also covers military-related programs run by other agencies, such as the Department of Energy's nuclear weapons programs and the Federal Bureau of Investigation's counterintelligence activities.