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Today, the House passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Conference Report for the 2020 fiscal year. The sweeping bipartisan defense measure was the result of a compromise between the two individual House and Senate-passed versions of the NDAA. Rep. Salud Carbajal, member of the House Armed Services Committee, served as a conferee, helping shape the bill into its final form and securing wins for California’s 24th Congressional District.

“Our National Defense Authorization Act is a collaborative, bipartisan bill that stands up for our troops, military families and our national security,” said Rep. Carbajal. “As a veteran, a member of the House Armed Services Committee and an NDAA conferee, I worked hard to ensure the voice of California’s Central Coast was heard as we negotiated this bill. From service member pay raises and paid family leave for federal employees to critical research funding for our universities, I am proud of the provisions we’ve secured. Democrats in the House do not take our majority lightly—we will continue to govern, move forward essential legislation and deliver big wins for our nation.”

Rep. Carbajal helped to secure provisions in a crucial NDAA that:

• Authorizes millions in research funding for schools like Cal Poly and UC Santa Barbara to form critical research partnerships with the military, and help enhance technology and readiness—specifically, research funding to advance integrated silicon-based lasers and next generation liquid rocket propulsion.

• Creates a process to allow service members whose records were destroyed in the National Personnel Records Center fire to use other unofficial sources of information, like photographs, eyewitness accounts and postmarked letters, to determine eligibility of members and former members of the armed forces for decorations.

• Secures a 3.1% pay raise for service members.

• Establishes 12 weeks of paid parental leave for workers across the federal government.

• Repeals the unjust “widow’s tax” that reduces survivor benefits for spouses of service members who die in the line of duty.

• Stands up for the environment by authorizing millions of dollars toward environmental protection and land conservation; ensures the Department of Defense considers climate resiliency and plans for the material impacts of climate change on military installations. This bill also requires DOD to assess and mitigate current climate vulnerabilities.

• Reverses a Trump administration policy and restores the ability for senior service members to transfer their earned education benefits under the GI bill to family members.

• Protects Dreamers in the military by ensuring DACA and TPS recipients aren’t involuntarily separated from the military; requires counseling and assistance in applying for citizenship to service members who are not citizens so they can receive the help they need.

• Encourages the U.S. to maintain space superiority and strong space capabilities.

• and more.

The National Defense Authorization Act is a bill that annually provides funding and oversight for the nation’s military, defense and security needs. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, Carbajal was heavily involved in the 21-hour-long committee markup of the NDAA in June of this year. As an appointed NDAA conferee, Carbajal worked with a bipartisan group of House and Senate colleagues to establish the final version of the NDAA that passed in the House.

This bill now moves to the Senate, and then to the president’s desk.