Congresswoman Luria Recaps Victories in National Defense Authorization Act Conference Report

December 14, 2020
Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Elaine Luria today praised House passage of the conference report for the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2021, which includes key provisions she championed on behalf of servicemembers and military families in Hampton Roads and beyond.

“I was proud to support the National Defense Authorization Act conference report because it will position Coastal Virginia to continue our critical role in securing America,” Congresswoman Luria said. “This NDAA will ensure the safety of all Americans, give our troops the pay raise they have earned, and help military servicemembers and their families receive the benefits and support they deserve.”

Prior to the House’s vote on the NDAA, Congresswoman Luria spoke in support of the bill. Click here to watch footage of her remarks.

The final conference report included many of Congresswoman Luria’s priorities. These include:

  • Funding for military construction projects in Hampton Roads:
    • $30.4 million for E-2D Training Facility at Naval Station Norfolk
    • $17.671 million for MH0 & CMV-22B Corrosion Control and Paint Fac at Naval Station Norfolk 
    • $9.4 million for Sub Logistics Support at Naval Station Norfolk 
    • $19.5 million for Access Control Point Main Gate with Land Acquisition at Joint Base Langley-Eustis 
    • $54.5 million for SOF Des Operations Fac and Command Center at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Story 
    • $58 million for SOF NSWG-2 NSWTG Css Facilities at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Story 
    • $9.1 million for Generation and Distribution Resiliency Improvements at Wallops Island 
  • Rep. Luria’s Military Pilots Cancer Incidence Study Act, a proposal to study the incidence of cancer diagnosis and mortality among military aviators and aviation support personnel;
  • The TRICARE ECHO Act, a bill Rep. Luria co-led with Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK-04);
  • Rep. Luria’s amendment requiring DOD to establish a policy related to small-payload space launches, which will directly benefit the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at NASA Wallops Island in her district;
  • Rep. Luria’s fix to the Seaman to Admiral Program to ensure that the Navy adequately credits a servicemember’s time in service and calculates accurately their retirement eligibility;
  • $1.4 billion to take steps to protect military communities from PFAS. Rep. Luria advocated to conferees to include PFAS provisions from the House version to protect military communities, like Hampton Roads;
  • $494 million for the Maritime Security Program, which Rep. Luria advocated for given that Hampton Roads is home to one of the most robust maritime communities and many of the ships are home ported in Hampton Roads;
  • Adding Parkinsonism, bladder cancer, and hypothyroidism to the list of diseases sociated with exposure to Agent Orange so Vietnam-Era veterans exposed to Agent Orange receive the benefits they’ve earned;
  • A 3% pay raise to troops to account for a cost of living adjustment and to reward hard work;
  • Improvements to sexual assault and domestic violence prevention and response programs by creating a task force to study and make recommendations on domestic violence within the military services and empowers victims of sexual harassment to make confidential reports of sexual harassment outside of the chain of command; and,
  • Two-ship buy for Columbia-class and Virginia-class submarines, which are partially made in Hampton Roads.

The FY2021 NDAA passed the House in July and contained several of Congresswoman Luria’s amendments advancing Hampton Roads priorities.