Congresswoman Tenney Votes for National Defense Authorization Act, Highlights Wins for Rome Lab
Washington, DC – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-22) tonight voted to pass the bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2022. The bill included three of her amendments, which will now be signed into law. This includes a $10 million amendment to establish a quantum network computing testbed program at the Air Force Research Laboratory in Rome, New York, also known as Rome Lab. The bill includes an increase in authorized spending for Rome Lab that is 7% over the amount requested by the president.Tenney also fought successfully to strip harmful language from the bill that would have infringed on the Second Amendment rights of service members and required women to register for the draft. This legislation passed the House by a vote of 363-70.
“The National Defense Authorization Act is vital for our Nation’s security as well as our military service members and their families. I am especially pleased that the bill passed tonight includes a $10 million amendment I drafted to establish a quantum network computing testbed at the Air Force Research Lab in Rome, New York. This is a big win for Rome Lab and our community that will continue to cement the Lab as our nation’s leading center for quantum research and development, while supporting our region’s economic growth.
“The bill passed tonight also reverses President Biden’s dangerous cuts to our military and advances many of our most important national security priorities by continuing to provide for a strong and robust military,” said Congresswoman Claudia Tenney. “The bill holds the Administration accountable for its disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, provides our warfighters with a 2.7% pay raise, invests $118 billion in cutting-edge research, and holds the Chinese Communist Party responsible for its role in the outbreak of COVID-19. The bill also protects the health freedom of our service members by ensuring they are not dishonorably discharged for refusing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
“Finally, I made a commitment to you that I would fight to remove harmful provisions from this bill, and I delivered on that promise. This bill does not include an unnecessary provision requiring women to register for the draft. As a result of my continued advocacy, it also does not include an outright dangerous and unconstitutional provision infringing on our Second Amendment rights.
“While I am pleased Congress came together to pass this bipartisan bill, the way this process was handled demonstrates the total dysfunction of the Democratic majorities in both the House and Senate," Congresswoman Tenney concluded. "To skip the joint House-Senate conference process and proceed immediately to final passage, as Democratic leadership did tonight, prevents Members of Congress from ensuring the full range of views and priorities of their constituents are reflected in the bill.”
Key Provisions of FY22 NDAA:
Increases authorized spending levels for Rome Lab by 7% over the President’s Budget Request.
Provides $768.1 billion for our national defense. This includes a Republican amendment boosting the defense topline by nearly $25 billion, ensuring growth of 5% over the previous year.
Reverses President Biden’s reckless cuts to our national security by restoring funding for shipbuilding, procurement, and missile defense.
Authorizes a 2.7% pay increase for service members.
Prevents President Biden’s cuts to military health programs and provides $35 million for research and treatment of Havana syndrome.
Includes several provisions to hold the Biden Administration accountable for its disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan. This includes a requirement for the Department of Defense to immediately submit a plan to Congress on how it will support the evacuation of American citizens from Afghanistan and continue our vital counterterrorism mission. It also prohibits the Department of Defense from providing any financial support to the Taliban.
Prohibits service members from being dishonorably discharged for choosing not to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
Provides $118 billion in funding for the Research, Development, Test and Evaluation budget, which is an increase of more than $6 billion over President Biden’s initial budget request.
Authorizes over $1.1 billion in new aircraft, equipment, and weapon systems for the National Guard and Reserve.
Authorizes $7.1 billion for the Pacific Deterrence Initiative, a Pentagon plan created by last year’s NDAA that would bolster the military’s ability to deter Chinese aggression in the Pacific region.
Requires biennial reporting on Russian influence operations targeting U.S. military alliances and expresses a sense of Congress on U.S. support for NATO and opposition to Russian aggression in Eastern Europe.
Background on Tenney’s Amendments Included in Bill:
Quantum Network Computing Testbed: Establishes, at a $10 million funding level, a quantum network computing testbed program within the Department of the Air Force to develop a proof-of-concept quantum network testbed that may be accessed by prototype quantum computers. This amendment directly benefits the Air Force Research Laboratory in Rome, New York.
Reporting Language on Iran’s military capabilities: Requires a detailed report on Iran’s military capabilities regarding the proliferation of arms and weapons both to and from Iran. In the absence of an arms embargo, it is vital for the United States to continue to monitor the transfer, supply, and sale of arms and related material, this includes spare parts, to and from the Iranian government. Iran continues utilizing an arsenal of conventional weapons to destabilize the Middle East and fuel terrorism in the region.
Report on the Syrian President’s net worth: Requires the State Department to submit a report on the net worth of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his family members, including spouse, children, siblings, as well as paternal and maternal cousins, including income from corrupt or illicit activities. In coordination with US sanctions enforcement against President Bashar al-Assad in Syria, it is important to monitor the rampant corruption to ensure that funds are not directed to terrorist groups and malign activities.
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