By a vote of 83-11, the Senate approved and sent President Biden 2023 National Defense Authorization Act. It was approved by the Senate on December 15th. The following summary is taken from the official Congressional website.
This bill authorises the Department of Defense (DOD) activities for FY2023, as well as other issues.
This bill is an example.
Allows the purchase of various items, including aircraft and destroyers
Modifies inventory requirements to support different Air Force programs
DOD authorized charging stations for electric vehicles to be provided at military exchanges, commissary shops and other locations;
DOD must provide funding for research and development of bioindustrial manufacturing processes.
DOD must run a pilot program to facilitate conversions of non-tactical vehicles into electrical vehicles.
Navy and Army must work together to develop a pilot program that will determine if data recorders can be used to monitor the operation of military tactical vehicles.
The Armed Forces identifies the end strengths for each branch.
All branches of the Armed Forces must notify Congress before taking any actions regarding reserve units, such as deactivation or assignment.
For military occupational specialties, the Army should establish gender-neutral fitness standards. These standards should be more stringent than those for non-combat military occupation specialty.
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) must make recommendations to Congress regarding ways to increase retention and recruitment for Army missile defense system experts. These recommendations must be implemented by the Army.
After the DOD signs major military health contracts, the GAO must inform Congress.
Temporarily certain TRICARE programs cannot impose cost-sharing obligations for prescription contraceptives and related services.
A laboratory must be designated by the Department of Homeland Security to serve as the Chemical Security Analysis Center.
The Department of the Treasury should support international efforts to provide debt restructuring and relief for the developing world.
Federal regulators cannot take adverse actions against depository banks solely for providing financial services to cannabis-related companies that are subject to state or local laws.
This statutory authority allows the issuance of an executive order to raise the minimum wage for federal contractors employees on April 27, 2021;
Veterans who have had or are currently having cannabis use cannot apply for federal employment.
Data standards for federal agencies like the Securities and Exchange Commission and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation are required.
California creates the San Gabriel National Recreation Area within the National Park System.
Two items of interest are not included in this summary. Military personnel have been exempted from the COVID vaccine mandate.
Section736(a), National Defense Authorization Act Fiscal year 2022 (Public Law112-81; 10 U.S.C. 1161 Note) has been amended by striking the phrase: “During the period starting on August 24, 2021, and ending on the date that is two years after this Act was enacted,” and inserting “Any”.
Second, more money than usual and less repayments from Ukraine
A provision in the defense spending bill allows Ukraine to delay payments on hundreds of millions of dollars it borrowed from the United States.
This bill delays payments and increases funding for Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative by $800 billion.
The beat goes on.
