Greenville Reporter

Washington, D.C. — On July 14, 2023, Rep. Greg Murphy, M.D. (NC-03) voted YES on H.R. 2670, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024. This legislation authorizes $886.3 billion for national defense discretionary programs. It represents an increase of $23 billion over FY23 funding levels while also saving taxpayers $40 billion by cutting inefficient programs, obsolete weapon systems, and Pentagon bureaucracy.

"I'm grateful for the effort and thoughtful consideration put into this year's annual defense bill," said Rep. Greg Murphy, M.D. “This bill represents a big win for our military-heavy district, the security of our nation, and those who are committed to the DoD’s mission.

“This measure grants over $300 million for projects at Camp Lejeune and Cherry Point, authorizes a 5.2% pay increase for our troops, cuts woke policies, strengthens DoD accountability, and strengthens our strategic defense posture. Plus, it makes the necessary steps to restore eligibility for servicemembers discharged under the COVID-19 vaccine mandate and provides support for securing the border. As the proud representative of over 125,000 veterans and servicemembers in Eastern North Carolina, it is my honor to advocate for the resources critical to our military readiness and the safety of our nation."

Third District Victories | By the Numbers:

• 5.2% PAY INCREASE for all service members.

• $40 MILLION for the 10th Marines Maintenance and Operations Complex, Camp Lejeune.

• $31.9 MILLION for Amphibious Combat Vehicle Shelters, Camp Lejeune.

• $40 MILLION for a Corrosion Repair Facility Replacement, Camp Lejeune.

• $70 MILLION for a Marine Raider Battalion Operations Facility, Camp Lejeune.

• $19.5 MILLION for an Aircraft Maintenance Hanger, Cherry Point.

• $65 MILLION for a 2D LAAD Maintenance and Operations Facility, Cherry Point.

• $35.1 MILLION for a Maintenance Facility & Marine Air Group HQS, Cherry Point.

Total for NC-03 Military Construction Initiatives in FY2024: $301.5 MILLION

FY24 NDAA:

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 provides our warfighters the resources they critically need to defend our nation against global threats, bolsters our strategic defense against China, improves the quality of life for our servicemembers and their families, and rids our military of radical, woke ideology pushed by President Biden and Democrats in Washington.

• Supports servicemembers and their families:
  • Includes a 5.2% increase in servicemember basic pay, the largest pay raise in over 20 years.

  • Extends recruitment and retention bonuses.

  • Authorizes over $240 million to reduce out-of-pocket housing costs.

  • Expands reimbursement eligibility for military spouses on business costs and relicensing when transferring locations.

  • Reduces DoD childcare fees for military families.

  • Authorizes $113 million over the budget request for new military childcare centers, and authorizes over $280 million to build new schools for military children.

• Ends Democrat efforts to inject wokeness into the military:
  • Prohibits funds going towards the teaching of Critical Race Theory (CRT) and prohibits funds toward any advisory committee dealing with CRT.

  • Repeals the DoD Chief Diversity officer and requires the Secretary to validate the need for every position in the DEI bureaucracy.

  • Prohibits funds for any advisory committee dealing with race, gender identity, sexual orientation, or social justice.

  • Prohibits the DoD from contracting with advertising firms that blacklist conservative news sources.

  • Prohibits any funds going toward drag shows.

  • Does not authorize climate change programs.

  • Includes a Parents Bill of Rights for servicemembers to ensure military parents’ right to review curriculum, meet with teachers, and provide consent before any medical exams or screenings at school.

• Strengthens oversight and fiscal accountability at the Pentagon:
  • Invokes oversight at the Pentagon, requiring the DoD IG to conduct a full audit of the price and cost data for major acquisition programs.

  • Establishes an Inspector General for Ukraine tasked with auditing all aid provided from the United States.

  • Penalizes DoD for cost overruns on major programs.

• Provides a pathway back to the armed forces for servicemembers who refused to take the COVID vaccine:
  • Continues to prohibit the DoD from mandating that servicemembers take the COVID-19 vaccine.

  • Requires the DoD to establish a process to fully inform interested servicemembers of how to reinstate.

  • Classifies time away from service of discharged servicemembers as “career intermissions” so future promotion considerations will not be negatively impacted.

  • Requires DoD to prioritize requests of discharged servicemembers to enable full retirement benefits.

• Provides DoD support in securing the border:
  • Provides additional funding for the National Guard’s work with local law enforcement to disrupt illicit drug trafficking.

  • Provides funding for NORTHCOM to improve drug interdiction efforts.

  • Directs DoD to inform Congress on how it can utilize or transfer unused border wall materials to border states.

  • Fully funds the National Guard’s border deployment account.

Original source can be found here.