December 13, 2023

Manchin Votes to Pass National Defense Authorization Act, Secures West Virginia Priorities

Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), voted for final passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024, which included several West Virginia priorities Senator Manchin secured during markup.

“America’s military readiness transcends political division and this year’s defense package provides necessary funding to defend our nation and provide support to our service members and their families,” said Senator Manchin. “While I am disappointed that the Chief Management Officer position, who is tasked with reforming our military to improve performance and increase accountability, was not kept in this final version of the NDAA, this legislation is a worthwhile investment that will ensure we are prepared to face threats at home and abroad.  I am proud to vote for this legislation and look forward to seeing it passed into law.” 

The NDAA establishes the funding levels and creates new programs within the Department of Defense (DoD) annually. Today’s passage of this bill marks the 63rd year in a row that Congress has advanced this bipartisan piece of legislation. The FY24 NDAA authorizes $886 billion, including $841 billion for the Department of Defense and $32 billion for Department of Energy national security programs, which Senator Manchin oversees as the Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

The bill also includes Senator Manchin’s Nuclear Fuel Security Act, which directs the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to establish a nuclear fuel program with the purpose of onshoring nuclear fuel production to enable the U.S. to end its reliance on Russian uranium and ensure that a disruption in Russian supply would not impact the development of advanced reactors or the operation of the United States’ existing light-water reactor fleet. Passage of this bill will help ensure our energy security and independence while also reducing the funds Russia receives from energy sales that are used to support its war efforts in Ukraine.

West Virginia and national priorities included in FY24 NDAA:

  1. Artificial Intelligence Strategy: Requires DoD to provide an updated strategy and report to Congress on its artificial intelligence developments, regulations, and protections to ensure the United States maintains its competitive edge in this rapidly evolving field.
  2. Assessment of Military Training Areas: Requires two separate studies into the need to modernize the DoD’s military training areas. This strategy has been supported by Senator Manchin in his efforts to construct a Joint All-Domain Training Complex in Southern, West Virginia.
  3. West Virginia National Guard Ridge Runner Irregular Warfare Exercise: Encourages the DoD to continue the Ridge Runner Irregular Warfare Exercise, which is a military exercise run by the West Virginia National Guard that brings special operations forces and conventional forces to West Virginia from five other states and foreign partners from fourteen nations to train on irregular warfare concepts.
  4. West Virginia National Guard Locked Shields Cyber Critical Infrastructure Protection Exercise: Authorizes $4,000,000 in funding to the U.S. team for preparation and participation in this exercise, and encourages the DoD to continue the Locked Shields Cyber Critical Infrastructure Protection Exercise, the world’s largest international cyber defense exercise. This annual exercise involves over 38 nations and 3,000 participants, and the U.S. team is led by the West Virginia National Guard from the Morgantown, WV armory.
  5. West Virginia National Guard Mission Assurance Program: Authorizes $4,000,000 in funding to the Army Interagency Training and Education Command within the West Virginia Army National Guard for the establishment of a Mission Assurance program to acquire and maintain all-domain awareness of threats posed to critical infrastructure, and aid those entities in conducting all-domain threat assessments and remedial actions within their systems.
  6. Special Operations Cyber Development: Authorizes $5,000,000 in funding to Marine Corps Special Operations Command’s Technical Surveillance Cyber Course (MTSCC) to support special operations requirements for expeditionary cyber operations.
  7. Creation of a Cyber Intelligence Center: Requires the establishment of a dedicated cyber intelligence center to support the requirements of the U.S. Cyber Command (CYBERCOM), the other combatant commands, the military departments, defense agencies, the Joint Staff, and the Office of the Secretary of Defense for foundational, scientific and technical, and all-source intelligence on cyber technology development, capabilities, concepts of operations, operations, and plans and intentions of cyber threat actors.
  8. Elevates the Vice Chief of the National Guard Bureau: Elevates the Vice Chief of the National Guard Bureau to the rank of four-star general, consistent with the Vice Chiefs of the other military services.
  9. Hiring Freeze on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Positions: Halts the hiring of any new positions solely responsible for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) matters within the DoD until a Government Accountability Office study is provided to Congress detailing the effects of DEI within the DoD.
  10. Report and Briefing on Non-Covered Health Care Policies of the DoD: Requires the DoD and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to provide a report and briefing to Congress before July 24th on the legality of the Pentagon’s policies covering travel reimbursement and leave to seek non-covered health care services.
  11. The Fentanyl Eradication and Narcotics Deterrence (FEND) Off Fentanyl Act: Combats the country’s fentanyl crisis by targeting the illicit fentanyl supply chain—from the chemical suppliers in China to the cartels that traffic the drugs in from Mexico—through strengthened sanctions and anti-money laundering authorities.
  12. The Nuclear Fuel Security Act: Directs the Secretary of the DOE to establish a nuclear fuel program with the purpose of onshoring nuclear fuel production.