The recently passed Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) included a provision by Rep. Ken Calvert that is designed to keep servicemen safer through new reforms and requirements. The NDAA was passed on July 14 in the House of Representatives by a vote of 219-220, according to a a release on Calvert's website.
“We owe it to our servicemembers and their families to take every action possible to learn from past mistakes and work to prevent avoidable accidents that threaten the lives and safety of our troops," Rep. Calvert said. "The NDAA includes meaningful reforms that will better protect American service members.”
According to the press release the provision is Sec. 351 and is to enhance the protection of U.S. service members, adding requirements to the Joint Safety Council and mandating each military branch to develop a plan to address accidents through creating precautionary measures. Earlier this year Rep. Calvert proposed the MEZr Act (H.R. 4214) due to one of his constituents First Lt. David Schmidtz. Schmidtz died from a due to an ejection seat malfunction. The most recent provision recalled the intention of the MEZr Act.
The NDAA included a provision, Sec. 1854, requested by Congressman Calvert to transfer seven C-130 planes from the U.S. Coast Guard to California to assist in the combatting the wildfires.
“California needs all of the support we can get in combatting wildfires and these aircraft will provide desperately needed assistance in protecting lives and property,” said Rep. Calvert. “I have been working with Senator Padilla’s office to get these aircraft to California and ready to fight fires as soon as possible.”
According to the press release, the FY2024 NDAA included a third of Calvert’s defense priorities, the DOD Entrepreneurial Innovation Act (H.R. 273). Under this provision, every military branch needs to choose at least five programs as "Entrepreneurial Innovation Projects." These projects received funding from the Department of Defense's Small Business Innovation Program (SBIR) and offer a product that improves national defense. The press release also states the Department of Defense needs incorporate these programs into their yearly budget.
“Too often, the DOD does not fulfill the intent of the SBIR program by never inserting promising mature technologies, products or processes into programs," Calvert said. "The Entrepreneurial Innovation Act authorization will force the Service Secretaries to pick the most promising SBIR programs and budget for them. Not only will this expand the defense industrial base, but it will create disruption within the Services to existing incumbent providers and help maintain our technological edge. I believe we can find ways to get our warfighters advanced tools in a faster timeframe while also lowering costs for U.S. taxpayers.”