Torres Small Celebrates House Passage of Yearly Defense Bill

July 21, 2020
Press Release
NM HASC member highlights pay raise for troops, next gen weapon development, national security investments

Washington, D.C. –Today, Representative Xochitl Torres Small (NM-02), member of the House Armed Services Committee, released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed the FY2021 National Defense Authorization Act with bipartisan support. 

“I am proud of the bipartisan work we did this year to get service members the support they deserve. From a well-deserved pay raise and maternity leave compensation for national guardswomen and reservists to investments in technology for the next generation of weapons and keeping our border safe, we owe a great debt to the brave men and women who step up to serve. New Mexico plays a unique role in the country’s national security, and I will continue to fight for the resources we need to continue the missions at Holloman Air Force Base, White Sands Missile Range, and beyond,” said Torres Small. 

In addition to including fifteen NDAA amendments in the HASC Committee markup, Torres Small was able to secure additional improvements to the annual defense bill before it came to a Floor vote: 

  • Paid maternity leave parity for mothers serving in the U.S. National Guard and reserve components. This provision is identical to Rep. Torres Small’s bill, H.R. 2927, MOMS Leave Act;
  • The inclusion of the H.R. 5273, Securing America’s Ports Act, which will strengthen border security by increasing the scanning rates of vehicles entering the United States at land ports of entry with large-scale non-intrusive inspection (NII) systems; 
  • And the inclusion of H.R. 1912, DHS Acquisition Documentation Integrity Act, which would require DHS to be a good steward of taxpayer money by maintaining complete, accurate, timely, and valid documentation for major acquisitions with an estimated lifecycle cost of $300 million or more.

“As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I’m committed to working with our bases and local communities to best position New Mexico’s military installations, like Holloman Air Force Base and White Sands Missile Range, to have the resources to confront new threats and challenges. These installations are essential to our national security, and I’ve fought to secure the resources our bases need through this year’s defense authorization bill to meet growing demand and support the presence of the Armed Services in southern New Mexico,” said Torres Small.

Along with Torres Small’s measures, the FY21 NDAA includes provisions to support our troops and military families, such as a 3.0 percent pay increase for our service men and women.

To read in further detail about the specific provisions Congresswoman Torres Small successfully included the FY2021 National Defense Authorization Act, please click here.

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