Posted on Dec 23, 2022
Mandatory COVID-19 vaccines for service members are out. What else is in the fiscal 2023 NDAA?
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President Joe Biden today signed the fiscal 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which removes the mandate that service members get the COVID-19 vaccine. What else is in the latest NDAA that could affect the daily lives of military personnel and their families? Quite a lot.
In addition to authorizing gobs of spending for military equipment and other national defense, homeland security and foreign affairs concerns, the $857.9 billion measure includes provisions to raise military pay and address inflation, basic needs and child care costs, food insecurity, housing expenses, mental health issues and more.
Congress is expected to pass an omnibus spending package that, among other nondefense spending, includes funding for the act. The $1.7 trillion omnibus appropriations bill also includes a nearly $119 billion increase for Veterans’ medical care, among other nondefense spending.
The NDAA authorizes national security spending totaling $816.7 billion for the Department of Defense (DOD) and $30.3 billion for the Department of Energy. NDAA-authorized funding is $45 billion above the level requested by the White House.
The 4,4408-page bill (H.R. 7776) passed the House on Dec. 8 and the Senate on Dec. 15. Here are some highlights of the 62nd consecutive NDAA, gleaned from congressional and interest group summaries and legislative text:
Military pay. The measure authorizes a 4.6% pay raise for service members and the DOD civilian staff, which is the biggest jump in decades. This takes effect in January.
Housing. The measure authorizes DOD to increase basic allowance for housing (BAH) payments for service members who live in high-cost areas. DOD recently announced that starting Jan. 1, 2023, BAH rates will go up by an average of 12.1%. The measure also improves military housing oversight by codifying a chief housing officer position, according to a summary issued by Sen. Mark Warner, Democrat of Virginia.
Food insecurity. The new NDAA now allows financially challenged service members at higher income levels to receive the monthly basic needs allowance. DOD is authorized to expand the program to service members at 150% of the poverty level, up from the current cap of 130% of the poverty level. In some cases, DOD can expand eligibility to service members at 200% of the poverty level. The NDAA also authorizes a pilot program to tackle Veterans’ food insecurity, offering grants to organizations addressing this issue, Warner said.
Food access. The NDAA also authorizes $210 million for the military commissary program to lower grocery prices for military members and families, Warner said.
Child care. For families who can’t find child care within 30 days of a permanent change of station (PCS) move, the measure authorizes a pilot program to cover travel expenses for a family-designated child care provider, according to a roundup by the National Military Family Association (NMFA). Payments for those stationed here and outside the United States are $500 and $1,000 respectively. The NDAA requires service secretaries to actively promote and increase awareness of child care options, according to a summary by the House Armed Services Committee.
(In the fall, DOD expanded the Military Child Care In Your Neighborhood-Plus program to additional states, aiming to boost access to civilian child care when on-base child care is unavailable; see https://www.rallypoint.com/command-post/dod-boosts-housing-and-other-resources-to-reduce-financial-pressures-faced-by-military-families.)
Another two-year pilot program authorized by the measure would, starting in 2024, hire more special needs coordinators in high-need areas through the Exceptional Family Member Program, NMFA said. (Read more about this program at https://www.rallypoint.com/command-post/caring-for-a-family-member-with-special-needs.)
Pet transport. The NDAA also authorizes — but does not require — service branches to reimburse families stationed here and outside the United States $500 and $1,000 respectively for pet transportation during PCS moves, the NMFA said. The organization said it was disappointed that services aren’t mandated to provide this benefit.
Mental health. The measure requires DOD to report on a shortfall in the behavioral health care workforce and devise a plan to recruit and retain more qualified workers, according to a summary by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Democrat of New York. DOD must also conduct more detailed research into military mental health and rates of death by suicide, Warner said.
Spouse employment. The NDAA expands DOD authority to reimburse military spouses up to $1,000 for PCS-related relicensing, including costs incurred by spouses with home businesses, according to NMFA and Armed Services.
Dental care. For service personnel and families who can wait until 2026, that’s when the DOD is authorized to start a new TRICARE Dental program. The premium-sharing program must offer a choice of up to four plans to individuals, individuals plus one and families. The Military Officers Association of America said the program could create more competition in the marketplace, resulting in more choices and better access to dental care.
Learn more
Download the legislative language:
https://rules.house.gov/sites/democrats.rules.house.gov/files/BILLS-117HR7776EAS-RCP117-70.pdf.
Review summaries of the fiscal 2023 NDAA at these sites:
House Armed Services Committee: https://armedservices.house.gov/_cache/files/1/b/1b429234-37e5-4143-aede-c3d3e407047b/38F6CE52F989A9FE5EC3C3DF6DE5E [login to see] 7-fy23ndaa-full-text-bill-summary.pdf
Senate Armed Services Committee: https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/fy23_ndaa_agreement_summary.pdf
NMFA summary: https://www.militaryfamily.org/fy23-ndaa-wins-and-losses
Warner statement: https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2022/12/warner-applauds-inclusion-of-key-priorities-in-draft-of-annual-defense-bill
Gillibrand statement: https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/news/press/release/ahead-of-final-passage-senator-gillibrand-highlights-priorities-for-service-members-and-military-families-included-in-fy2023-ndaa
White House signing statement: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/12/23/statement-by-the-president-on-h-r-7776-the-james-m-inhofe-national-defense-authorization-act-for-fiscal-year-2023
In addition to authorizing gobs of spending for military equipment and other national defense, homeland security and foreign affairs concerns, the $857.9 billion measure includes provisions to raise military pay and address inflation, basic needs and child care costs, food insecurity, housing expenses, mental health issues and more.
Congress is expected to pass an omnibus spending package that, among other nondefense spending, includes funding for the act. The $1.7 trillion omnibus appropriations bill also includes a nearly $119 billion increase for Veterans’ medical care, among other nondefense spending.
The NDAA authorizes national security spending totaling $816.7 billion for the Department of Defense (DOD) and $30.3 billion for the Department of Energy. NDAA-authorized funding is $45 billion above the level requested by the White House.
The 4,4408-page bill (H.R. 7776) passed the House on Dec. 8 and the Senate on Dec. 15. Here are some highlights of the 62nd consecutive NDAA, gleaned from congressional and interest group summaries and legislative text:
Military pay. The measure authorizes a 4.6% pay raise for service members and the DOD civilian staff, which is the biggest jump in decades. This takes effect in January.
Housing. The measure authorizes DOD to increase basic allowance for housing (BAH) payments for service members who live in high-cost areas. DOD recently announced that starting Jan. 1, 2023, BAH rates will go up by an average of 12.1%. The measure also improves military housing oversight by codifying a chief housing officer position, according to a summary issued by Sen. Mark Warner, Democrat of Virginia.
Food insecurity. The new NDAA now allows financially challenged service members at higher income levels to receive the monthly basic needs allowance. DOD is authorized to expand the program to service members at 150% of the poverty level, up from the current cap of 130% of the poverty level. In some cases, DOD can expand eligibility to service members at 200% of the poverty level. The NDAA also authorizes a pilot program to tackle Veterans’ food insecurity, offering grants to organizations addressing this issue, Warner said.
Food access. The NDAA also authorizes $210 million for the military commissary program to lower grocery prices for military members and families, Warner said.
Child care. For families who can’t find child care within 30 days of a permanent change of station (PCS) move, the measure authorizes a pilot program to cover travel expenses for a family-designated child care provider, according to a roundup by the National Military Family Association (NMFA). Payments for those stationed here and outside the United States are $500 and $1,000 respectively. The NDAA requires service secretaries to actively promote and increase awareness of child care options, according to a summary by the House Armed Services Committee.
(In the fall, DOD expanded the Military Child Care In Your Neighborhood-Plus program to additional states, aiming to boost access to civilian child care when on-base child care is unavailable; see https://www.rallypoint.com/command-post/dod-boosts-housing-and-other-resources-to-reduce-financial-pressures-faced-by-military-families.)
Another two-year pilot program authorized by the measure would, starting in 2024, hire more special needs coordinators in high-need areas through the Exceptional Family Member Program, NMFA said. (Read more about this program at https://www.rallypoint.com/command-post/caring-for-a-family-member-with-special-needs.)
Pet transport. The NDAA also authorizes — but does not require — service branches to reimburse families stationed here and outside the United States $500 and $1,000 respectively for pet transportation during PCS moves, the NMFA said. The organization said it was disappointed that services aren’t mandated to provide this benefit.
Mental health. The measure requires DOD to report on a shortfall in the behavioral health care workforce and devise a plan to recruit and retain more qualified workers, according to a summary by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Democrat of New York. DOD must also conduct more detailed research into military mental health and rates of death by suicide, Warner said.
Spouse employment. The NDAA expands DOD authority to reimburse military spouses up to $1,000 for PCS-related relicensing, including costs incurred by spouses with home businesses, according to NMFA and Armed Services.
Dental care. For service personnel and families who can wait until 2026, that’s when the DOD is authorized to start a new TRICARE Dental program. The premium-sharing program must offer a choice of up to four plans to individuals, individuals plus one and families. The Military Officers Association of America said the program could create more competition in the marketplace, resulting in more choices and better access to dental care.
Learn more
Download the legislative language:
https://rules.house.gov/sites/democrats.rules.house.gov/files/BILLS-117HR7776EAS-RCP117-70.pdf.
Review summaries of the fiscal 2023 NDAA at these sites:
House Armed Services Committee: https://armedservices.house.gov/_cache/files/1/b/1b429234-37e5-4143-aede-c3d3e407047b/38F6CE52F989A9FE5EC3C3DF6DE5E [login to see] 7-fy23ndaa-full-text-bill-summary.pdf
Senate Armed Services Committee: https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/fy23_ndaa_agreement_summary.pdf
NMFA summary: https://www.militaryfamily.org/fy23-ndaa-wins-and-losses
Warner statement: https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2022/12/warner-applauds-inclusion-of-key-priorities-in-draft-of-annual-defense-bill
Gillibrand statement: https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/news/press/release/ahead-of-final-passage-senator-gillibrand-highlights-priorities-for-service-members-and-military-families-included-in-fy2023-ndaa
White House signing statement: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/12/23/statement-by-the-president-on-h-r-7776-the-james-m-inhofe-national-defense-authorization-act-for-fiscal-year-2023
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