Congressman Jason Crow Passes 29 National & Colorado Priorities in National Defense & Intelligence Bills

WASHINGTON – Congressman Jason Crow (CO-06), former Army Ranger who serves on the House Armed Services and House Intelligence Committees, today passed 29 of his amendments and priorities in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and Intelligence Authorization Act (IAA). Both bills were conferenced with the Senate and passed today in the House by a margin of 350-80. They will now head to the President’s desk for signature.

With the aftermath of Vladimir Putin’s unlawful invasion of Ukraine and the growing strategic challenge posed by China, this NDAA and IAA equip the Department of Defense (DoD) and US military with the right resources and authorities to meet the greatest threats to the United States and our common defense. It also supports our servicemembers and their families with a 4.6% pay raise for our troops.

“When I was a young soldier I had to live with decisions made in Washington. I will never forget what that felt like. That's why I take my responsibility on the Armed Services Committee very seriously,” said Congressman Jason Crow. 

“I’m proud to secure important wins for our servicemembers and for Colorado – providing a well-deserved pay raise for our troops, ensuring Coloradans remain on the frontier of technology and research, advancing US climate leadership, and increasing accountability in the military. I’m honored to help deliver a defense bill that will make us safer, stronger, and ensure we are doing right by our men and women in uniform,” he continued.

Response to the War in Ukraine:

• Assessing our partners’ Will to Fight (Co-led with Rep. Meijer)
  • Compels the Director of National Intelligence to compile a report assessing our partners’ will to fight, examining the case studies of conflicts in Ukraine, Afghanistan and Iraq
• Appointing a Russian atrocities coordinator (Co-led with Rep. Waltz)
  • Requires the Director of National Intelligence to appoint an intelligence community coordinator for Russian atrocities in Ukraine
• Appointing a coordinator to oversee proliferation of Iran-origin drones
  • Requires the Director of National Intelligence to appoint an intelligence community coordinator for countering and neutralizing the proliferation of Iran-origin unmanned aircraft systems
• Inspectors general oversight of US response to Russia’s war in Ukraine
  • Sense of congress and a requires a report due to Congress in April 2023 on:
    • Oversight framework relevant IGs are using or plan to use
    • Whether any gaps in oversight currently exist
    • Assessment of any failures by the U.S. or other organizations to work with IGs in a transparent and timely manner
    • Description of the footprint in Europe of IGs for oversight of assistance
    • Known instances of misuse of U.S. assistance
    • Lessons learned regarding how oversight can be conducted
    • Findings or recommendations regarding assistance to Ukraine.

Preparing for 21st Century Threats:

• Bolsters cybersecurity at the Department of Defense by:
  • Requiring an assessment and optimization plan for Department of Defense operations within the cyber domain
  • Requiring a comprehensive assessment of cyber vulnerabilities within Department of Defense weapons systems

• Report on Uses for Supersonic Aircraft for Each Military Service (Co-led with Rep. DesJarlais)
  • Colorado companies are leading the way developing these technologies
• Briefing on Technology Solutions to Counter the Small Unmanned Drone Threat (Co-led with Rep. Whittman)
  • Requires strategy on DoD's efforts to develop critical counter drone technology to address the threat posed by drones and drone swarms
  • Colorado companies are leading the way in the development of these technologies
• Interim Security Clearances for STEM Students
  • Requires the Secretary of Defense to submit a report on the feasibility of allowing students working in defense-related STEM fields to be granted interim clearances prior to graduating and entering the job market. This would alleviate issues that stem from the 18-24 month clearance backlog and strengthen the defense STEM workforce.

Promoting Climate Security and Securing Military Resilience:

• Sustainable Aviation Fuel Pilot Program
  • Establishes a pilot program on the use of sustainable aviation fuel with the Department of Defense.
  • Buckley Space Force Base and the Denver International Airport are both uniquely suited for this program
• Compels the Department of Defense to comply with Crow’s MIRA Act

Ensuring Accountability in the Military:

• Transparency on Military Harm to Foreign Civilians
  • Establishes a Center for Excellence in Civilian Harm Mitigation to institutionalize and advance knowledge, practices, and tools for preventing, mitigating and responding to civilian harm.
  • Authorizes $25 million for the Civilian Harm MItigation and Response Action Plan Implementation
  • Compels an annual report to improve transparency, accountability and oversight of DoD military activities that result in civilian harm during overseas military operations.

Keeping Colorado at the Forefront of Technology Advances

• Funding for the University Consortium for Space Technology (Co-led with Rep. Golden)
  • The bill provides a total of $15 million for University of Colorado's space technology development which supports the Space Force's research and development efforts
  • Crow passed an NDAA amendment last year to establish this consortium, which CU Boulder is well-positioned to take advantage of through its groundbreaking space technology research
• Enshrines Colorado as part of the FireGuard Program in statute to prohibit FireGuard from being transferred to any other Department or Agency.

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