Langevin Statement on Mark-Up of FY17 National Defense Authorization Act

Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI), a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, offered his support for the FY2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which passed out of committee early this morning by a vote of 60-2. The NDAA authorizes a total of $610.5 billion in mandatory and discretionary spending for national defense, including $58.8 billion for overseas operations.

“Our national security landscape is more complex than ever, and the challenges we must tackle in this National Defense Authorization are immense. I have concerns about several elements of this authorization, but on the whole, the NDAA invests in and supports critical policies and programs at the strategic, operational, and tactical levels. I am especially pleased with what I believe is a targeted, systematic approach to fighting terrorism, with an emphasis on engaging partners in the Middle East and increasing transparency and oversight as Congress continues to evaluate our strategy against ISIL,” said Langevin. “At the end of the day, every Member of Congress - and my colleagues on the House Armed Services Committee, in particular - shares a deep concern for the safety of the American people and our way of life. It is the responsibility of this committee to support our armed forces and mitigate the threats we face at home, abroad, and in cyberspace, and I believe this authorization does that, thanks in large part to the leadership of Chairman Mac Thornberry (R-TX) and Ranking Member Adam Smith (D-WA).”

As ranking member of the Emerging Threats and Capabilities (ETC) subcommittee, Langevin thanked subcommittee Chairman Joe Wilson (R-SC) and applauded their colleagues for producing a proposal that recognizes the importance of cybersecurity as part of a comprehensive national security strategy. The subcommittee’s recommendations, which were adopted by the full committee, fully sustain cyber funding and provide authority to establish a unified combatant command for cyber operations, a critical step forward in identifying and combatting unique conflicts throughout the cyber domain. Additionally, the mark includes a provision authored by Langevin that acknowledges the potential for intrusion software controls included in the Wassenaar Arrangement to negatively affect national security. The language requires the Department of Defense to brief the committee on ways in which these controls could impact departmental operations, with a specific eye to international partners.

“We cannot afford to take risks with cyber funding, and as the co-founder and co-chair of the Congressional Cybersecurity Caucus, I am encouraged by this committee’s continued emphasis on strengthening our nation’s cyber defenses,” Langevin said. “Personnel and capability development must not lag as we forge new territory and protect our interests from cyber attack.”

The mark also made additional investments in both K-12 STEM education and in cybersecurity training and education programs, including an additional $10 million for the National Defense Education Program; $10 million for science and technology education at historically black colleges and universities; $3 million for Army Guard Cyber Protection Teams; and $5 million for public-private cyber training partnerships.

“As a national leader on cybersecurity and as co-chair of the Congressional Career and Technical Education Caucus, I am encouraged by this commitment to STEM education and this investment in the future of the scientific and cybersecurity workforce that our national security will depend upon in the future,” Langevin added.

Langevin applauded several aspects of the overall bill, including a provision inspired by legislation he initially introduced with Congressman Tom MacArthur (R-NJ) that provides dual leave for military parents adopting children. He was particularly pleased that the mark continues the two-per-year build rate of Virginia-class attack submarines, which are constructed in part at the General Dynamics Electric Boat facility at Quonset Point in Rhode Island, and restores $85 million in advanced procurement for the program. Langevin also cosponsored an amendment that was passed without opposition to recognize a point person already within the Department of Defense to oversee Directed Energy Systems, to help get critical, matured technologies out of the lab and into the field.

“After decades of promise and frustration, we are at a place where there are real, near-term Directed Energy capabilities to be utilized, and it is exciting to be at the tipping point of these technologies and witness real progress,” he said.

Langevin vehemently opposed an amendment that expanded the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) to firearms in general, as opposed to rifles alone. This amendment was proposed last year, as well, but was significantly scaled back in conference negotiations.

“As I said last year, and I reiterated to my colleagues this year, the very idea of distributing handguns through the CMP is in direct opposition to the program’s history and ignores the very real differences between handguns and rifles in their use in crime,” Langevin said. “I do not believe that adding tens of thousands of guns to our streets is in the best interest of Americans, and it certainly does not have any nexus with our national defense.”

Langevin cautioned against other elements included in the mark, particularly on the funding side, wherein $23.1 billion of the $58.8 billion authorized for Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) is allowed to be used for base-budget requirements, threatening an $18 billion shortfall come April 2017 that would require Congress to provide supplemental funding outside of the approved Bipartisan Budget Act.

“I find the approach to funding this NDAA to be unorthodox and deeply concerning, blatantly circumventing the normal processes and knowingly putting our troops at risk of a funding shortfall,” Langevin added. “This is an imperfect bill, but I am hopeful that we can work out the funding issues and other areas of concern as we move forward in this process and craft a final product that provides support for military families and protects our national security.”

The National Defense Authorization Act now heads to the House floor for consideration in May.