FGGAM NEWS received this news release from NM Congressman Pearce’s office:
PEARCE: NDAA HONORS PROMISE TO MILITARY AND THEIR FAMILIES
Washington, DC (December 2, 2016) Today, the House agreed to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) 2017 conference report. Agreement of the NDAA today is critical to ensuring our nation’s military has the ability to complete its missions in the year to come. Congressman Pearce issued the following statement in response to the NDAA’s agreement:
“The NDAA is one of the most important bills Congress passes,” said Pearce. “This bill provides our military with the freedom and flexibility it needs to maintain facilities, continue to train, modernize our equipment, and help and support our military families. As a former Air Force pilot, working on and supporting this bill holds special meaning to me. Specifically, the bill recognizes the importance of protecting and promoting the livelihood of our soldiers and their families by providing a 2.1% pay increase for the entire military. It is an honor to be able to improve and strengthen our policies for the benefit of the men and women who serve our nation.
“This year’s NDAA is an extremely significant one for New Mexico. Not only does this bill strongly support our military installations – Holloman, Kirtland, and Cannon Air Force Bases; Sandia and Los Alamos National Laboratories; White Sands Missile Range – but it also finally accomplishes a fight I have been working on for over a decade. Since I entered office in 2003, I have been working with the Zuni Pueblo and the Navajo Nation to distribute lands from the closed Ft. Wingate Army Depot back to the tribes. Passage of the NDAA today guarantees the Federal government will live up to its commitment and agreement with Native Americans. I greatly appreciate the work of both the Zuni Pueblo and Navajo Nation to bring this agreement to life, and thank Chairman Thornberry for his willingness to include this provision in the NDAA.
“Beyond the inclusion of the Ft. Wingate land transfer, this NDAA truly focuses on the readiness of our troops and their families. This bill increases funding for training to make certain our military has the skills needed to combat terror and threats against our nation globally. Additionally, our State has a rich and storied history in technological advancements and innovation for our Armed Forces. This NDAA, for the first time, prioritizes innovation by separating out funding for research and development from the rest of the budget. This change will greatly benefit New Mexico – allowing WSMR and other facilities in the state to operate more efficiently and effectively,” continued Pearce.
