FY22 NDAA Passes House with Key Provisions of Joyce’s Military Family Violence Prevention Act

WASHINGTON, DC – Tonight, Congressman Dave Joyce (OH-14) voted for the Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This critical defense legislation, which included key provisions of Joyce’s bill to prevent domestic violence and abuse in the military, passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a bipartisan vote of 363 to 70.

“Tonight, I was proud to fully fund America’s defense needs for the coming year and support our courageous servicemembers,” said Joyce. “This legislation provides our Armed Forces with the resources and tools they need to effectively confront emerging threats across the globe from Afghanistan to the South China Sea. It puts our servicemembers first, ensures accountability for the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, strengthens national security by making historic investments in our defense industrial base, and enables us to stay ahead of our adversaries. Our brave men and women in uniform sacrifice so much for our safety and our freedoms – they deserve nothing less than what this critical, bipartisan legislation provides.”

Included in the FY22 NDAA are key provisions of Joyce’s Military Family Violence Prevention Act. To bolster the Department of Defense’s (DOD) ability to quickly intervene and prevent domestic violence and abuse in the military, Joyce’s bill improves DOD’s Family Advocacy Program (FAP) by ensuring the program is properly resourced, improving coordination of the program on military installations, and increasing education about the program for servicemembers and families.

Additionally, the FY22 NDAA:

• authorizes a 2.7% pay increase for servicemembers and extends military recruitment and retention bonuses and special pay authorities;
• reverses President Biden’s reckless cuts to our national security by boosting the defense topline by nearly $25 billion;
• prohibits a dishonorable discharge for servicemembers who refuse a COVID-19 vaccination;
• regains control of America’s supply chain from China by requiring DOD to prioritize domestic production of critical minerals and pharmaceutical ingredients;
• authorizes over $1.1 billion in new aircraft, equipment, and weapon systems for the National Guard and Reserve;
• requires DOD and the Director of National Intelligence to assess the involvement of the Chinese Communist Party in the origins of COVID-19;
• establishes a program to prevent fraud and abuse in the Military Health System;
• prohibits DOD from providing any financial support to the Taliban and establishes an independent commission to review the entirety of the Afghanistan War including the disastrous withdrawal;
• requires DOD to conduct a thorough and independent review of suicide prevention and response programs at various military installations;
• continues funding for the deployment of National Guard troops to the southern border; and
• requires DOD to report to Congress on military ties between China and Iran.

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