House Passes Congressional Hispanic Caucus Member Amendments as Part of FY23 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)

July 14, 2022
Press Release

For Immediate Release

Thursday, July 14, 2022

Contact

Sebastian Roa

House Passes Congressional Hispanic Caucus Member Amendments as Part of FY23 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)

Washington, D.C. – Today, the House passed this year's National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) with Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Member priorities included.

"The Congressional Hispanic Caucus applauds the House passage of the NDAA for Fiscal Year 2023. It includes key CHC priorities that confront the unprecedented challenges facing our nation at home and abroad. Our Members delivered on key issues like veterans and servicemembers' affairs; immigration; environment and climate change; diversity; domestic violent extremism; mis/disinformation; sexual assault; and more. I commend the work of our House Armed Services Committee Members Reps. Ruben Gallego, Salud Carbajal, and Veronica Escobar for their leadership. The CHC will continue to advocate to get these priorities through the Senate, to the President's desk, and benefit our communities," said Chair Dr. Ruiz.

This year's defense bill covers a range of CHC legislative priorities, including but not limited to, veterans and servicemembers' affairs; immigration; environment and climate change; diversity; domestic violent extremism; mis/disinformation; sexual assault; and more. A few highlights include:

  • Chair Dr. Ruiz, Vice-Chair Adriano Espaillat, and Rep. Lou Correa passed an amendment requiring the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Veterans' Affairs, and the Department of State to report on deported servicemembers, veterans, and immediate family members from 2010 to date.

  • Chair Dr. Ruiz ensured our servicemembers can access the care they need when they return home after exposure to burn pits.

  • Rep. Joaquin Castro led an amendment directing the Department of State to include information on the treatment of migrants in an annual report.

  • Rep. Linda Sánchez secured an amendment to combat climate change as a security threat through NATO.

  • Rep. Veronica Escobar passed an amendment to diversify DoD's workforce through internships and fellowships at Hispanic serving institutions and other minority serving institutions.

  • Vice Chair of the Democratic Caucus Pete Aguilar secured an amendment that would require the Department of Defense (DoD) to implement recommendations from the Department's Countering Extremist Activity Working Group to shield military servicemembers from extremists.

  • Rep. Linda Sánchez also passed an amendment to require the Secretary of Defense to issue a report assessing NATO's efforts to counter mis/disinformation.

  • Rep. Jim Costa ensured funding to help victims of child abuse and strengthen law enforcement response to hold perpetrators accountable.

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The Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), founded in December 1976, is organized as a Congressional Member organization, governed under the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives. The CHC is dedicated to voicing and advancing, through the legislative process, issues affecting Hispanics in the United States, Puerto Rico and U.S. Territories.