Jimmy Panetta: “Today, I rise in support of an amendment to the underlying bill, the National Defense Authorization Act. The NDAA is a…”

“Today, I rise in support of an amendment to the underlying bill, the National Defense Authorization Act. The NDAA is a bill that articulates our defense priorities and secures our national interests. I am very, very proud and thankful to Chairman Smith and committee staff to have incorporated a number of provisions into this bill. Of particular importance, I am honored to have included a provision that improves privatized military housing. I think all of us can agree that it is imperative that the Department of Defense develop a holistic solution to remedy systemic privatized military housing issues and empower servicemembers and their families. I saw this need firsthand in my district while engaging with servicemember constituents throughout this past year. That is why I offered legislation that was included in the NDAA that enhanced transparency, communication, and accountability standards. The core elements of this bill, the Better Military Housing Act, included a tenant bill of rights, housing advocacy, and an improved work order system. This amendment that I am speaking about today adds two additional important provisions. First, it authorizes an additional $5 million for new military housing construction, utilizing the Army's high-performance and healthy living All-American Abode design.…”