This week, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) applauded the advancement of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which included several key provisions led and advocated for by Kuster. The legislation also includes a 3.1% pay increase for our nation’s servicemembers, the largest in a decade.

“From securing the largest pay raise for our servicemembers in a decade, providing support for survivors of partner and domestic violence, to implementing 12 weeks of paid parental leave for all civilian federal employees - I am glad to see this vital legislation move forward,” said Kuster. “I am excited to see a number of provisions I led and cosponsored included in the final piece of legislation as part of our nation’s defense priorities.”

Provisions advocated for by Kuster in the final legislation include:

Paid parental leave

Implement 12 weeks of paid parental leave to all civilian federal employees.

Repeal of the Widows Tax

Repeal the Widows Tax to allow families of fallen servicemembers to continue receiving vital benefits. This provision repeals the dollar for dollar offset surviving military spouses get for the Dependency and Indemnity Compensation Program (DIC) & the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP).

Eliminate wasteful DOD spending

Department of Defense-wide best practices to improve the collection of real property information to cut down on wasteful spending.

Protect and support survivors of intimate partner and domestic violence

• Registration of all civilian protection orders on military instillations to keep service members and their families safe from intimate partner and domestic violence.
• Trauma informed training and consolation with trauma experts for Discharge Review Boards and Boards for the Correction of Military Records to ensure victims of domestic and intimate partner violence are not unfairly denied veterans benefits because of discharges related to sexual violence they experienced while serving.

Protection from Carbon Monoxide poisoning

Require DOD to install carbon monoxide alarms in all military housing to protect servicemembers and their families.

Prohibit unauthorized use of military force

Prohibit the unauthorized use of military force against Iran to prevent President Trump from dragging the United States into an unnecessary war.  

Empower service members to fight medical malpractice

Create a pathway for service members to file claims for themselves or a family member in the case of medical malpractice.

Gender integration in Marine Corps boot camps

Establish a timeline and require the Marine Corps to gender integrate basic training programs at Parris Island and San Diego Recruit Depots.

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