NDAA on Congressional Leaders’ Fall Radar
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With lawmakers returning to Capitol Hill after the Labor Day vacation, consideration will likely be dedicated to arriving at a ultimate model of the Nationwide Protection Authorization Act.
Throughout the post-summer work interval, the management of the protection coverage committees are tasked with reconciling variations within the measures to clear a invoice for the president’s desk this 12 months. Variations of the protection invoice superior in each the Home and Senate earlier than the August recess.
The must-pass laws pertaining to applications on the Pentagon has been cleared for enactment yearly relationship again a number of many years. Particular to the trucking business, each the Home and Senate payments embrace a provision that mandates the Division of Protection to green-light sure requirements for accessing navy installations across the nation.
Finalizing this complete fiscal 2024 protection coverage invoice over the approaching weeks is a precedence for congressional leaders.
Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), the chamber’s majority chief, referred to as on colleagues to pursue a ultimate model of the measure. The protection invoice handed within the Senate by a vote of 86-11 on July 27.
On Sept. 5, as he outlined the autumn agenda, Schumer insisted, “We additionally should construct on the work we did in the course of the [National Defense Authorization Act] to outcompete the Chinese language authorities, to maintain the American folks protected, to guard American companies and make sure that American innovation and expertise leads the way in which this century.
“We additionally should proceed standing with our buddies in Ukraine now greater than ever because the counteroffensive in opposition to [Vladimir] Putin’s forces is in full swing.”
Shortly after the invoice’s passage, Armed Companies Committee Chairman Jack Reed (D-R.I.) touted key provisions.
“This forward-looking protection invoice will go a great distance towards preserving the American folks protected, deterring battle and confronting the nationwide safety threats we face. This bipartisan NDAA supplies a historic stage of help for our troops and their households, together with the biggest navy pay elevate in many years.
“It authorizes record-level investments within the folks, platforms and applications that our forces must safeguard the nation and advance U.S. pursuits worldwide.”
A report ready by the Armed Companies panel, which accompanied the Senate invoice, supplied context concerning the trucking provision: “The committee notes that there isn’t a common entry normal throughout the companies, which may result in venture delays for navy building tasks, services repairs and family good strikes.”
On July 14, by a vote of 219-210, the Home of Representatives authorized its model of the protection invoice. The NDAA has historically cleared Congress for the president’s signature, no matter occasion management. Along with protection insurance policies, the invoice consists of vitality and climate-centric provisions.
American Trucking Associations is amongst stakeholders endorsing congressional policymakers’
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consideration to points pertaining to entry to navy installations and bases. For a number of years, these teams have championed proposals designed to help corporations that transfer family items for navy and civilian personnel.
“Such entry requirements should be constant throughout navy installations, embrace procedures to facilitate recurring unescorted entry for ‘coated people,’ and require [Department of Defense] to just accept credentials that exist already for non-DOD personnel, such because the Division of Homeland Safety’s Transportation Employee Identification Credential,” ATA, ATA’s Transferring & Storage Convention, ATA’s Authorities Freight Convention and the HomeSafe Alliance indicated in a letter this summer season to the congressional Armed Companies panels.
The teams continued: “To be clear, truck drivers, motor carriers and family items movers are [Department of Defense] companions, they’re typically vetted by the federal authorities, and plenty of have safety clearances and/or different federally acknowledged safety credentials.”
