Representative Mike Garcia (CA-25) released the following statement after the House passed the FY2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). In addition to providing critical funding for our nation’s defense sector, the bill includes Garcia’s bipartisan Military Spouse Licensing Relief Act and additional wins for California’s 25th District.

“I am pleased that the House passed the bipartisan FY2022 NDAA, which would provide critical funding for our nation’s defense sector. The bill also includes my bipartisan Military Spouse Licensing Relief Act that would allow military spouses with a professional license to continue to utilize their license when moving to a new state on military orders. I was also able to secure essential funding for defense-related programs in California’s 25th District that will bring jobs, industrial growth, and prosperity to our district and benefit our nation’s overall security. This House passage of this bill brings us one step closer to ensuring that our military has the funding and support they need to keep our nation safe and secure,” said Garcia. 

The FY2022 NDAA includes a number of programs that create millions of dollars in economic impact in California’s 25th district every year. Examples of funding contained in this year’s NDAA that creates jobs in our communities are:

• $126,800,000 to support U-2 Dragon research and development and airborne reconnaissance systems
• $351,151,000 for an additional MQ-4 Triton aircraft  
• $108,027,000 to Fully fund the B-21 Raider 
• $10,895,000 to provide strong support for the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent Program (GBSD) 
• $29,944,000 to fully fund the B-2 bomber 
• $1,168,161,000 to fund the procurement of 12 additional Super Hornets 
• $47,559,000 to fund the procurement of 5 additional CH-47F Block II helicopters 
• $494,136,000 to fund the procurement of 28 Apache helicopters 
• Funding for the procurement of 80 F-35s

While Garcia supported the overall FY2022 NDAA package, he has continued to be outspoken on the bill’s failure to provide the U.S. Military with the pay raise necessary to ensure servicemembers do not fall below the poverty line. The FY2022 NDAA includes a 2.7% pay raise for the military, which falls short of ensuring all servicemembers make at least $15 an hour, which Garcia called for in July. 

“While I am pleased that the FY2022 NDAA provides critical financial support for our nation’s defense capabilities, it is not a perfect bill in its entirety. This legislation includes a military pay raise of 2.7%-- which is simply not enough. This will still leave many U.S. servicemembers below the poverty line. I will continue to work to address this issue in Congress,” said Garcia.

Click here to learn more about Rep. Garcia’s bipartisan Military Spouse Licensing Relief Act. 

Click here to watch Rep. Garcia advocate for a higher Military Pay Raise on the House Floor.