Senator Stabenow Secures Important Priorities for Michigan in Final National Defense Authorization Act
Bill improves effectiveness of Stabenow law to strengthen Buy American laws, invests in our troops, and addresses PFAS contamination
Friday, December 11, 2020U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) secured important priorities for Michigan in the final 2021 National Defense Authorization Act, which passed the Senate by a margin of 84-13. The bill now heads to the President’s desk to be signed.
“This bill continues to make important investments for Michigan manufacturers and secures a well-earned pay raise for our troops,” said Senator Stabenow. “It also strengthens our Buy American laws, ensuring that we use taxpayer dollars to support Michigan manufacturers, workers, and our defense industry. This will also help build the U.S. strategic national stockpile of personal protective equipment to support those on the frontlines of the COVID-19 crisis. The President should sign this bill immediately.”
Senator Stabenow secured important provisions in the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act to support Michigan, including:
- Guaranteeing a 3 percent pay raise for our men and women in uniform.
- Strengthening Buy American laws to support Michigan manufacturers. This bill will address loopholes in our Buy American laws to encourage the Department of Defense to purchase domestic products instead of foreign products. The Department of Defense will be required to provide an annual report to Congress on the use of waivers to bypass the Buy American Act and the Berry Amendment, which requires the Department to purchase food, clothing, fabrics, and hand or measuring tools from U.S. manufacturers. This requirement will provide more accountability and transparency around foreign purchases made by the Department of Defense. The provision also calls on the Department of Defense to provide quarterly briefings to Congress on areas where domestic industry cannot adequately support the Department of Defense’s missions.
- Addressing PFAS contamination. This bill authorizes $15 million in funding to continue a health study on the impacts of PFAS exposure, which is critical to establishing stronger federal standards for PFAS. The bill also protects Michigan farmers by requiring the Defense Department to alert them if their irrigation water is contaminated.
- Investing in ongoing research initiatives at the Ground Vehicle Systems Center (GVSC). The bill authorizes $42.5 million in funding for defense research projects at GVSC in Warren.
- Prohibiting the retirement of the A-10 Warthog at Selfridge Air National Guard base.
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