Rep. Jason Crow Secures Key Wins in FY2021 NDAA

December 8, 2020

Washington, D.C. -- Representative Jason Crow (CO-06) voted today to secure passage of the bipartisan conference report of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2021. Crow helped to ensure the bill contained key provisions that support sustainable energy development and climate security, as well as transparency and oversight of the Department of Defense. Representative Crow is a member of the House Armed Services Committee.

Crow Priorities Included:

Afghanistan Partnership and Transparency Act - Crow's amendment, offered with Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY), required the Administration to engage with Congress on any effort to withdraw troops from Afghanistan. The amendment requires a comprehensive interagency report detailing that the withdrawal will not, among other things, impede our counterterrorism mission or endanger our national security. It also requires the Administration to inform Congress of any efforts by other countries to impose bounties on U.S. service members, akin to those reportedly offered by Russia.

Protecting American Space Assets Act - Crow led the amendment that directs the President to develop and maintain a comprehensive national space strategy, secure government and commercial space assets, and ensure that the U.S. remains at the forefront of space operations.

Responsibility and Accountability in Strategic Pandemic/Biodefense Planning (RASPP) Act - Merged with language in the Senate, this amendment requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to work with the interagency Biodefense Steering Committee to ensure that the roles and responsibilities of all federal agencies and departments are clearly delegated so that the government is better prepared for future pandemics.

DOD WATER Act - Following conflicting reports from the Department of Defense on the impact of water scarcity on military bases due to warming temperatures, Crow, joined by Lamborn (R-CO) and Torres Small (D-NM), introduced a bill that would require the Secretary of Defense to improve data collection and create a recurring water scarcity assessment at at-risk military installations, such as bases like Buckley Air Force Base in Aurora.

Defense Community Investment Act - This bill, led by Crow (D-CO) and Lamborn (R-CO), will codify the Office of Economic Adjustment to protect it from DOD budget cuts. This office helps bridge the gap between defense communities, such as Aurora, and the military and support efforts around sustainability, readiness, and resiliency.

Voting Access for Deployed Service Members - Crow co-led an amendment with Rep. Turner (R-OH) that directs the Secretary of Defense to ensure that active duty servicemen and women serving at diplomatic missions receive express mail labels for their absentee ballots, as those serving on military installations already do.

Update to the Department of Defense Climate Change Roadmap - Crow joined Jim Langevin (D-RI) Representatives Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), Joe Neguse (D-CO), and to direct DOD to update the climate change roadmap, including to require assessments as to how climate change may exacerbate or create new conflicts around the world.

Investments in Defense Communities - Crow's robust funding for the Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) program, which has been implemented with great success at Buckley Air Force Base in Crow's district, and the Defense Community Infrastructure Program ensure that DOD is continuing to invest in defense communities.

Preserves Stars & Stripes - Includes full funding for Stars & Stripes, the only independent news outlet in the DOD, consistent with Crow-led efforts to protect the outlet from cuts by the Trump Administration.

The final conference report also includes:

A 3-percent pay raise for our service members and increases to special pay categories;
The creation of an independent commission that will recommend replacements for all names, symbols, displays, monuments, and paraphernalia that honor or commemorate the Confederate States of America and associated Confederate figures;
Special leave rollover authority for federal employees in recognition of their contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic;
Permanent suicide prevention and resilience programs to address mental health;
Limitations on emergency construction authority abused by the Trump Administration to build the wall on the southwestern border;
Limitation on the ability of the Administration to withdraw troops from Germany;
Numerous provisions to increase energy resiliency, enhance energy goals, and support initiatives to develop and field fuel efficient technologies for operational environments;
Continued phasing out of agents containing PFAS and mitigation of PFAS contamination sites; and
Fully funds the European Deterrence Initiative (EDI) to counter Russian aggression and creates the Pacific Deterrence Initiative (PDI) to reassure allies in the Pacific concerned with Chinese expansionism;
A package of provisions that codifies $500 million in assistance to Israel across eight years to improve cooperation in science, technology, healthcare, security, and more.

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