NW Riverside News

On July 14, Congressman Ken Calvert (CA-41) voted along with a majority (219 to 210) of the House of Representatives to approve the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

The NDAA includes a provision (Sec. 1854) requested by Rep. Calvert that will transfer seven C-130 aircraft from the U.S. Coast Guard to the state of California for use in wildfire suppression.

“California needs all of the support we can get in combatting wildfires and these aircraft will provide desperately needed assistance in protecting lives and property,” said Rep. Calvert. “I have been working with Senator Padilla’s office to get these aircraft to California and ready to fight fires as soon as possible.”

The FY24 NDAA also includes a provision (Sec. 351) requested by Rep. Calvert to improve the safety of U.S. service members by adding new requirements to the Joint Safety Council. The provision requires each military branch to develop a plan to resolve major accidents and mishaps by identifying corrective and preventative actions. This language echoes the intent of the MEZr Act, H.R. 4214, legislation introduced by Rep. Calvert earlier this year. The legislation is inspired by the death of Rep. Calvert’s constituent and F-16 pilot First Lt. David Schmitz (callsign “MEZr”) whose ejection seat malfunctioned while attempting a nighttime landing that ultimately resulted in a fatal crash.                                                                                           

“We owe it to our servicemembers and their families to take every action possible to learn from past mistakes and work to prevent avoidable accidents that threaten the lives and safety of our troops,” said Rep. Calvert. “The NDAA includes meaningful reforms that will better protect American servicemembers.”

The FY24 NDAA also includes Rep. Calvert’s legislation, the DOD Entrepreneurial Innovation Act (H.R. 273). This provision requires each military branch to designate at least five programs whose research and development was funded through a DOD Small Business Innovation Program (SBIR) as an “Entrepreneurial Innovation Project.”  This designation identifies small businesses whose product provides new capabilities that enhance the national defense and requires the DOD to include these innovative and cost-saving programs in their annual budget with their funding specifically identified so Congress can ensure they are fully resourced.

“Too often, the DOD does not fulfill the intent of the SBIR program by never inserting promising mature technologies, products or processes into programs. The Entrepreneurial Innovation Act authorization will force the Service Secretaries to pick the most promising SBIR programs and budget for them.  Not only will this expand the defense industrial base, but it will create disruption within the Services to existing incumbent providers and help maintain our technological edge,” said Rep. Calvert. “I believe we can find ways to get our warfighters advanced tools in a faster timeframe while also lowering costs for U.S. taxpayers.”

Original source can be found here.