Shaheen Applauds Senate Passage of FY 2024 Defense Bill, Highlights Key Wins for New Hampshire
(Washington, DC) — U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement after the U.S. Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year (FY) 2024. Through her leadership, Shaheen secured several key priorities that respond directly to issues facing New Hampshire as well as top national security concerns for the United States.
“The annual defense bill is an opportunity to advance our country’s national security goals and address issues facing Granite State families. In this bill, I’m proud to have secured funding and policies that will solidify New Hampshire’s important role in supporting our national defense, including completing important construction projects at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and investing in the Granite State’s defense industrial base,” said Senator Shaheen. “The bill also better equips our country to respond to evolving challenges overseas—from supporting Ukraine to strengthening our leadership in the Indo-Pacific. I look forward to swift passage by the House of Representatives to send this important bill to the President’s desk.”
After passing the Senate, the bill will be considered by the House before being sent to the President’s desk to be signed into law. Below is a summary of top New Hampshire and national security priorities secured by Shaheen in the FY 2024 NDAA.
Summary of Key Shaheen Priorities
Supporting the New Hampshire Defense Industry
Senator Shaheen worked to authorize $10.0 billion for the procurement of 83 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters. Shaheen has been a steadfast supporter of the F-35 program, which enhances U.S. national security and invests in New Hampshire’s economy and role in support of our national defense. New Hampshire has 58 first-tier suppliers for the program. In addition, Shaheen secured $2.8 billion for the procurement of 15 KC-46A Pegasus refueling tankers, which are flown at Pease Air National Guard Base in New Hampshire. Most recently, Pease hosted airmen and aircraft for training ahead of the 2024 NATO Air Defender Exercises. The 157th Air Refueling Wing, based at Pease, provided support throughout June to the NATO training exercises.?
Investing in Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
Senator Shaheen built on her long legacy of securing the authorization and funding necessary to complete the Multi-Mission Dry Dock Expansion. The FY 2024 NDAA includes $544.8 million to support the project at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. This is an increase over the FY 2023 levels and the funding required to keep the project on schedule. The Multi-Mission Dry Dock project will construct a?superflood?basin and extend portal crane rails for Dry Dock #1 at the Shipyard. The project expands the capacity of the Shipyard to accommodate an additional submarine, as well as ensure it is equipped with the modern equipment needed to maintain America’s fast-attack submarine fleet into the future. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator?Shaheen?helped secure this funding beginning in the fiscal year 2019 funding legislation, which she’s continued in ensuing years.??
Additionally, Shaheen successfully worked to authorize the procurement of two new Virginia-class submarines—which are repaired and maintained at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard—as well as the authorization of $3.2 billion in advanced procurement. Senator Shaheen has long been a steadfast supporter of the Virginia-class and is a fierce advocate for Shipyard priorities. Shaheen also worked to include authorization for the Navy to enter into one or more multi-year contracts for the procurement of up to 13 Virginia class submarines, and this authorization provides stability for the submarine industrial base and cost-savings for the Navy.
Expanding Shaheen’s Historic PFAS Health Impact Study & Confronting Full Scope of Challenges Posed by ‘Forever Chemicals’
Senator Shaheen included $5 million to continue and expand the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) PFAS health impact study that she established four years ago. Senator Shaheen has led efforts in Congress to uncover the potential health effects related to PFAS contamination. Because of her efforts, Pease is serving as a model site for the nationwide study. This builds on her work in the FY 2023 NDAA, in which Shaheen added an amendment to prohibit the Department of Defense (DOD) from purchasing PFAS-laden firefighting turnout gear after October 1, 2026. This followed?Shaheen-led efforts?to expand blood testing and treatment for firefighters exposed to PFAS and a similar amendment she secured to ban the use of PFAS-laden firefighting foam in the?FY 2020 NDAA. As a lead negotiator of water provisions in the bipartisan infrastructure law, Shaheen secured record-level funding to upgrade drinking water and wastewater infrastructure and address PFAS contamination.
In this year’s bill, Shaheen also secured language urging the Department of Defense to utilize safe, on-site PFAS destruction technologies. She also fought to successfully include a number of amendments focused on increasing transparency related to the Department’s PFAS testing and remediation efforts.
In addition, Shaheen included several new efforts that focus on transparency and accountability with PFAS-impacted communities. Shaheen secured provisions to ensure the Department of Defense better shares how they intend to restore PFAS testing data with state regulators and impacted communities, like at Pease. Following a letter Shaheen led last year to the Department to express frustration with planning and budgeting for PFAS-related activities, she successfully secured an amendment that will require the Department to submit a separate budget justification to Congress to ensure investments in PFAS testing and remediation are used efficiently and effectively, as well as directing recurring reports on DOD’s PFAS-related activities to increase oversight. Finally, Shaheen secured two amendments to increase engagement with PFAS-impacted communities, including language emphasizing the importance of establishing a senior official at the Department to lead DOD efforts. This role would also help build institutional frameworks for community engagement and authorities for DOD to provide technical assistance to PFAS-impacted communities to empower them to make more informed decisions about their health and futures. These provisions are consistent with key pieces of Shaheen’s PFAS Community Engagement and Transparency Act.
Increasing Information to Congress on Activity of Cartels & Transnational Criminal Organizations Trafficking Illicit Substances
Senator Shaheen supported the inclusion of a requirement for the Department of Defense to brief Congress on the impact of cartel and transnational criminal organizations (TCO) activities on the U.S. and the region. The Senate-passed bill also has a provision requiring the development of a strategy to counter fentanyl trafficking efforts. In April, Shaheen participated in a bipartisan congressional delegation visit to Latin America to address a number of pressing issues, including interdicting illicit substances from crossing the U.S. border.
Senator Shaheen, as Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee that funds the Department of Justice, has led efforts in the Senate to address the substance use disorder epidemic, which has hit New Hampshire communities hard. Her bipartisan FENTANYL Results Act, signed into law as part of the fiscal year FY 2023 NDAA, increases global cooperation in the fight against synthetic drug trafficking. Shaheen also co-leads the Cooper Davis Act, a bipartisan bill to hold social media companies accountable for reporting to law enforcement all illicit fentanyl activity occurring on their platforms. In March, Shaheen and Senators Roger Marshall (R-KS) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) hosted Dr. Rahul Gupta, Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, for a discussion on the federal government’s ongoing response to the substance use disorder epidemic. In the FY 2023 government funding legislation, Shaheen secured $608 million in federal grants to help communities and first responders across the nation to respond to the substance misuse crisis.
Extending Shaheen-led Pilot Program to Incentivize Employee Ownership in Defense Contracting
Senator Shaheen added a provision to extend a five-year employee stock ownership (ESOP) pilot program, which she originally established in the FY 2021 NDAA, by an additional three years. The extension also makes additional adjustments to the pilot program to ensure it effectively captures utilization of employee-owned businesses. In addition to securing this provision, Shaheen successfully fought to remove the limitation to the program that restricted companies from only receiving one ESOP pilot program related contract extension. ESOP programs allow employees to own shares in the company and empower them within their role and at the company. New Hampshire is a hub for manufacturing and Granite State firms play a critical role in support of our national defense, where they have historically secured contracts through the Department of Defense.??
Pay Raise for Our Troops
Senator Shaheen supported the inclusion of a 5.2 percent pay raise for service members and civilians to ensure military families receive the pay and benefits they deserve.
Summary of National Security Priorities in FY 2024 Committee-Passed NDAA
Defending Against Adversary Recruitment Efforts (DAARE) Act
Shaheen successfully included her bipartisan legislation with Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) that would prohibit former American service members from working for the government national security apparatus of China, Russia, North Korea, Syria, Cuba and Iran to protect our national security interests and ensure those countries do not gain a competitive advantage over the United States and our partners and allies. In addition, to ensure the United States is prepared to meet tomorrow’s threats, Shaheen successfully included language to ensure the DOD delivers a critically needed strategy and posture review regarding operations in the information space.
Standing by our Ukrainian Partners
Shaheen helped secure a provision in the FY 2024 NDAA that authorizes $300 million in security assistance for Ukraine amid Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked invasion. Shaheen has consistently worked to ensure the delivery of military, humanitarian and economic assistance to Ukraine.
Senator Shaheen leads action in the U.S. Senate in support of Ukraine in response to Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked aggression, which also threatens the stability and security of Eastern Europe and NATO allies. Shaheen has led multiple bipartisan congressional delegation visits to Ukraine, met with President Zelenskyy on multiple occasions and leads legislation in the U.S. Senate to address a U.S. strategy toward key political regions in Europe to bolster European security and transatlantic unity. As chair of the Senate NATO Observer Group and Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee that oversees U.S. policy towards Europe, Shaheen is a leading policymaker on efforts in support of Ukraine and in defense of democracies around the globe amid Putin’s war that threatens Ukraine’s sovereignty and security throughout the continent.
Addressing Syrian Humanitarian and Security Crises
Senator Shaheen successfully included her bipartisan Syria Detainee and Displaced Persons Act to designate a senior coordinator at the State Department to lead U.S. government efforts to address the humanitarian and security crises at ISIS detainee and displaced persons camps in northeastern Syria. The provision also directs the administration to develop an interagency strategy to address the threats posed by the camps, with the goal of ultimately repatriating all inhabitants and closing the camps. Finally, the provision increases interagency cooperation and transparency by mandating an annual report to Congress that details progress toward closing the camps.
Senator Shaheen has long led efforts to address the national security and humanitarian crises caused by the rise and subsequent fall of ISIS. Shaheen created?the Syria Study Group to complete a comprehensive assessment of the conflict in Syria and ways to address the consequence of the violence. One of the Study Group’s recommendations included the establishment of the ISIS Detainee Coordinator position Shaheen created in the FY 2020 National Defense Authorization Act. In 2018, she led a delegation with Senator Graham to Syria and Iraq, where she visited the detainee and displaced persons camps and met with officials on ways to address security and humanitarian needs.?In the FY 2020 National Defense Authorization Act, Shaheen included language to establish an ISIS Detainee Coordinator at the State Department to oversee U.S. government efforts to address the camps and detention facilities. That position was ultimately filled by the Coordinator of the Counterterrorism Bureau, however the position’s statutory mandate subsequently expired at the end of 2021.
Advancing an Interagency Strategy toward the Black Sea Region
Senator Shaheen secured the inclusion of her bipartisan legislation, the Black Sea Security Act, which would require the Biden administration to develop an interagency strategy toward the Black Sea region. Following Putin’s decision to withdraw from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, it has become increasingly clear that the economic and security implications of instability within the Black Sea region have global ramifications for food security. The Black Sea is also of strategic importance to Ukraine amid Russia’s unprovoked invasion. Shaheen’s legislation would require a strategy to increase military assistance and coordination, deepen economic ties, strengthen democracy and economic security and enhance security assistance with Black Sea countries.
Senator Shaheen has been a leader on U.S. policy toward the Black Sea region for years, stemming back to her participation as an election monitor in Georgia with Senator Jim Risch (R-ID) in 2012. Senator Shaheen was successful in securing limited language in the FY 2023 government funding bill and the FY2023 national defense bill to underscore the importance of the Black Sea region and to require a strategy from the Department of State toward the Black Sea region. Shaheen has also been vocal in the U.S. Senate about the urgency of prioritizing the region following Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked further invasion of Ukraine.
Supporting Americans Affected by?Directed Energy Attacks
Senator Shaheen built on her progress to ensure that all U.S. personnel and their loved ones suffering from anomalous health incidents (AHIs) – also known as “Havana Syndrome” or directed-energy attacks – get the medical attention they deserve. Shaheen successfully secured support for the AHI Cross Functional Team (CFT) to investigate and mitigate AHIs and to provide care for those impacted. Shaheen supported the establishment of the AHI Cross Functional Team in the FY2022 NDAA and worked to authorize $10 million in funding to support its efforts in the FY2023 NDAA that was signed into law. In addition, Shaheen also successfully included a provision that expands the CFT’s mandate to also pertain to “emerging directed energy capabilities” to prepare for future threats.
Senator Shaheen has been a leader in supporting American public servants who have incurred AHIs. In October 2021, President Biden?signed legislation Shaheen helped lead, the Helping American Victims Afflicted by Neurological Attacks (HAVANA Act), into law. The law authorizes financial support to ensure medical care for those living with AHIs. In the?FY2021 NDAA?that became law,?Shaheen?successfully included language?to expand a provision in law?that she?previously?wrote?to provide long-term, emergency care benefits to all U.S. Government employees and their dependents who were mysteriously injured while working in China and?Cuba.
Also, in the FY2022 NDAA, Shaheen included a provision based on her standalone legislation?to require the President to designate a senior national security official – now filled by Maher Bitar – to organize a whole-of-government response and direct the heads of relevant agencies to designate senior officials to lead their agency’s response to AHIs.?The FY2022 law also included a measure?Shaheen?supported?to ensure wounded officers and their families have immediate access to specialized facilities at Walter Reed. In FY2022 government funding legislation that was signed into law,?Shaheen added language to allow the Department of Commerce and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to address the medical needs of their employees or dependents who are likely victims of these attacks. Absent this language, neither the Department of Commerce nor the FBI would be permitted to provide funding to assist their employees who are AHI victims.
Addressing the Security Situation in the Balkans
Senator Shaheen helped secure a provision that would extend an existing authority for the Department of Defense to train Eastern European partner military forces as part of multilateral exercises and expand that authority to allow for the participation of Kosovo military forces. Shaheen’s efforts are particularly important and timely amid deteriorating security conditions in northern Kosovo.
Shaheen recently led a bipartisan group of lawmakers in a joint statement urging calm between Kosovo and Serbia amid concerning security conditions between the two nations. The statement came on the heels of a phone call between Prime Minister Kurti and Senators Shaheen, Murphy and Ricketts. Last month, Senators Shaheen and Ricketts issued a statement calling for calm. In March, the Senators issued a joint statement on the interim agreement reached between Serbia and Kosovo. Shaheen visited Kosovo and Serbia last April as part of a congressional delegation visit to the Balkans, which also included a stop in Bosnia and Herzegovina. At the urging of Shaheen, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a hearing on the Western Balkans last month, which came on the heels of Shaheen’s renewed bipartisan push to advance her legislation that would promote cooperation between the U.S. and the Western Balkans.
Bolstering AUKUS and U.S. Public Shipyards
Senator Shaheen supported the inclusion of a provision that directs the Department of Defense to designate a senior official to be responsible for DOD’s engagement as part of the efforts to implement the AUKUS agreement, which will help improve interagency coordination on the pivotal tri-lateral pact between the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom. Shaheen also successfully secured language emphasizing the role that U.S. public shipyards like Portsmouth Naval Shipyard will play in the future by helping the Australian Navy to establish the industrial base required to maintain future fleets of Virginia-class and AUKUS-class nuclear powered submarines.
Increasing Exportability Planning for U.S. Defense Capabilities
Senator Shaheen supported the addition of a provision that contains a number of elements intended to improve foreign purchasing of U.S. defense articles. The provision also establishes combatant command needs for exportability to ensure they are able to prioritize the systems most valuable in their region. Shaheen also supported a provision to update program guidance at the Department of Defense to better integrate planning for exportability in future major defense acquisition programs and middle tier acquisition programs, which will streamline the exportability process for defense articles and provide the defense industrial base with clear guidance on exportability requirements.
This builds on Shaheen’s leadership through her bipartisan legislation with Senator Fischer (R-NE), the Defense Export Promotion of Relevant Technology and Supplies Act (Defense EXPORTS Act). The Senators’ bipartisan legislation would help level the playing field for smaller defense manufacturing companies by funding exportability and interoperability during development of hardware to expedite the timeline for getting urgently needed capabilities into the hands of U.S. allies and partners.
Replenishing U.S. Defense Stockpiles
Senator Shaheen successfully fought to include a measure based on her standalone legislation with Senator Cornyn (R-TX) that would give the Department of Defense enhanced procurement authorities to quickly replenish American defense stockpiles after the President provides aid to an ally or partner attacked by a foreign adversary, including backfilling America’s stockpiles after lethal aid was sent to Ukraine for defense against Russia.
Shaheen and Cornyn previously worked together on the Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act, which was signed into law, and establishes a military lend-lease program to enhance security assistance to Ukraine. Shaheen also leads the Promoting Readiness for Overseas Contingencies and Unexpected Responses to Exigencies (PROCURE) Act with Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC), which would establish a Critical Munitions Acquisition Fund (CMAF) to allow the Secretary of Defense to better manage industry production lines and sustain particular munitions lines that are critical to U.S. national security interests.
Supporting a Free and Democratic Belarus
Shaheen secured language that would codify the role of Special Envoy to Belarus, ensuring the U.S. maintains diplomatic relations with the pro-democracy movement inside the country. This initiative would ensure that the State Department will recommit senior-level attention to the pro-democracy Belarussian movement.
Most recently, Shaheen introduced bipartisan legislation with Senator Wicker (R-MS)—the Belarus Democracy, Human Rights and Sovereignty Act of 2023—that condemns the Lukashenka regime’s support for Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine and calls for a return to free and fair elections and for observer status for the Belarus democracy movement at international institutions, among additional support for the Belarus democracy movement including provisions to ensure access to independent media inside Belarus. In 2021, Shaheen, alongside Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS) launched the bipartisan Free Belarus Caucus following the Senators’ meeting with Tsikhanouskaya. Shaheen and Wicker also led a bipartisan resolution that reaffirms U.S. support for the Belarusian pro-democracy movement, which unanimously cleared the Senate last year.
Strengthening U.S.-EU Trade Ties
Shaheen also secured language that would regular briefings from the Biden Administration on the deliverables and policy initiatives from the United States-European Union Trade and Technology Council (TTC), which contributes to enhanced coordination on trade and technology policy between the U.S. and EU. In June, Shaheen chaired for the Europe and Regional Security Cooperation Subcommittee on China's growing economic and security presence in Europe which highlighted the importance of the TTC meetings to continue close coordination on key trade and technology policy interests.
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