House Passes National Defense Bill with Key Shaheen-Authored Provisions – President Says He Will Sign Into Law Quickly
**Defense bill includes ban on PFAS chemicals in firefighting foam, continued funding for health impact study and Shaheen’s bipartisan legislation to expedite analysis of water contaminants including PFAS**
**Bill provides a pay raise to service members, eliminates the “Widow’s Tax” and Shaheen’s bipartisan legislation to provide support to military spouses**
**Bill prioritizes role of Pease and Portsmouth Naval Shipyard**
**Bill includes Shaheen’s legislation to crack down on fentanyl coming from China & Mexico**
(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee which authors the annual defense bill, issued the following statement after the House of Representatives passed the fiscal year (FY) 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), annual defense legislation that authorizes national defense programs and priorities for the year. As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Shaheen helps write the defense bill every year and successfully included a number of her provisions in this year’s bill that prioritizes New Hampshire and a strong national defense.
“I worked across the aisle to help write a defense bill that prioritizes New Hampshire, our service members, their families and a strong national defense,” said Shaheen. “I’m very pleased that members on both sides of the aisle agreed and that this bill is moving swiftly through Congress. Now that the House has approved this step, I urge an expeditious vote in the Senate so that we can send this bill to the President who has stated that he will quickly sign this legislation into law.”
Regarding the PFAS provisions in the legislation, Shaheen added:
“This bill ensures the health impact study at Pease will continue to move forward and addresses occupational exposure, which impacts our firefighters and military members at a higher rate. For years, New Hampshire residents have rightly fought for more information, and greater transparency and accountability, in response to their exposure to PFAS chemicals in drinking water. I also fought to include a phase out of the use of PFAS firefighting foam and a transition to a PFAS-free alternative. I look forward to seeing these important provisions becoming law and will continue to fight for additional steps that need to be taken that weren’t included in this bill.”
Read more about Senator Shaheen’s priorities that were included in the FY 2020 NDAA:
- Ban on PFAS Chemicals in Firefighting Foam, Continued Funding for Health Impact Study & Blood Tests for Military Firefighters
- Bipartisan Provision to Support Military Spouses and Ease Regulations Hindering the Transfer of Occupational Licensing and Small Business Registration from State to State
- Elimination of Military “Widow’s Tax” That Impacts as Many as 65,000 Surviving Military Spouses Nationwide
- Pay Raise for Service Members, 12 Weeks Paid Leave for Federal Employees & Military Readiness Priorities for Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and Pease Air National Guard Base
- Targeted Sanctions to Stop Russian Efforts that Exploit Europe’s Energy Dependence
