Amata’s Amendment Passes in Major Defense Bill
Additional Key Pacific Amendments Included in NDAA
Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is welcoming passage of her amendment, included in the year’s largest Defense legislation, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The Radewagen Amendment that she sponsored requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to include analysis of People’s Republic of China (PRC) influence in the Pacific Islands region as part of the DOD’s annual Report on Military and Security Developments Involving the Peoples Republic of China.
“We need robust U.S. engagement in the Pacific that takes into account all the realities and activities of the region,” said Aumua Amata.
Congresswoman Amata in the Veterans’ Health Subcommittee this week.
The NDAA, passed 329-101, authorizes Pentagon operations across the board. This year, the House approved $839 billion, a $37 billion increase, encompassing all Defense-related spending from weapons systems to personnel to military construction.
Aumua Amata also supported and cosponsored several other key amendments of interest in the Pacific region, or to local Veterans. “These amendments, as related to U.S. involvement in the Pacific or Veterans services, helped make the NDAA a better bill,” said Amata.
In particular, the Sablan Amendment, led by Rep. Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (CNMI-At Large), requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish the Advisory Committee on United States Outlying Areas and Freely Associated States to provide advice and guidance to the VA on matters relating to veterans residing in American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau. Among other duties, this advisory committee must advise the VA on how to improve its programs and services to better serve veterans living in the listed areas.
The Case Amendment, led by Rep. Ed Case (HI-01), requires DOD to brief Congress on the DOD role in the renegotiations of the Compacts with the Freely Associated States.
The Bera Amendment, led by Rep. Ami Bera (CA-07), directs the State Department and USAID, to provide an independent assessment of the resources they need to fulfill the Indo-Pacific Strategy.
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