Mandatory COVID-19 vaccines for service members are out. What else is in the fiscal 2023 NDAA?

2022-12-23T13:26:07-05:00

President Joe Biden today signed the fiscal 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which removes the mandate that service members get the COVID-19 vaccine. What else is in the latest NDAA that could affect the daily lives of military personnel and their families? Quite a lot.

In addition to authorizing gobs of spending for military equipment and other national defense, homeland security and foreign affairs concerns, the $857.9 billion measure includes provisions to raise military pay and address inflation, basic needs and child care costs, food insecurity, housing expenses, mental health issues and more.

Congress is expected to pass an omnibus spending package that, among other nondefense spending, includes funding for the act. The $1.7 trillion omnibus appropriations bill also includes a nearly $119 billion increase for Veterans’ medical care, among other nondefense spending.

The NDAA authorizes national security spending totaling $816.7 billion for the Department of Defense (DOD) and $30.3 billion for the Department of Energy. NDAA-authorized funding is $45 billion above the level requested by the White House.

The 4,4408-page bill (H.R. 7776) passed the House on Dec. 8 and the Senate on Dec. 15. Here are some highlights of the 62nd consecutive NDAA, gleaned from congressional and interest group summaries and legislative text:

Military pay. The measure authorizes a 4.6% pay raise for service members and the DOD civilian staff, which is the biggest jump in decades. This takes effect in January.

Housing. The measure authorizes DOD to increase basic allowance for housing (BAH) payments for service members who live in high-cost areas. DOD recently announced that starting Jan. 1, 2023, BAH rates will go up by an average of 12.1%. The measure also improves military housing oversight by codifying a chief housing officer position, according to a summary issued by Sen. Mark Warner, Democrat of Virginia.

Food insecurity. The new NDAA now allows financially challenged service members at higher income levels to receive the monthly basic needs allowance. DOD is authorized to expand the program to service members at 150% of the poverty level, up from the current cap of 130% of the poverty level. In some cases, DOD can expand eligibility to service members at 200% of the poverty level. The NDAA also authorizes a pilot program to tackle Veterans’ food insecurity, offering grants to organizations addressing this issue, Warner said.

Food access. The NDAA also authorizes $210 million for the military commissary program to lower grocery prices for military members and families, Warner said.

Child care. For families who can’t find child care within 30 days of a permanent change of station (PCS) move, the measure authorizes a pilot program to cover travel expenses for a family-designated child care provider, according to a roundup by the National Military Family Association (NMFA). Payments for those stationed here and outside the United States are $500 and $1,000 respectively. The NDAA requires service secretaries to actively promote and increase awareness of child care options, according to a summary by the House Armed Services Committee.

(In the fall, DOD expanded the Military Child Care In Your Neighborhood-Plus program to additional states, aiming to boost access to civilian child care when on-base child care is unavailable; see https://www.rallypoint.com/command-post/dod-boosts-housing-and-other-resources-to-reduce-financial-pressures-faced-by-military-families.)

Another two-year pilot program authorized by the measure would, starting in 2024, hire more special needs coordinators in high-need areas through the Exceptional Family Member Program, NMFA said. (Read more about this program at https://www.rallypoint.com/command-post/caring-for-a-family-member-with-special-needs.)

Pet transport. The NDAA also authorizes — but does not require — service branches to reimburse families stationed here and outside the United States $500 and $1,000 respectively for pet transportation during PCS moves, the NMFA said. The organization said it was disappointed that services aren’t mandated to provide this benefit.

Mental health. The measure requires DOD to report on a shortfall in the behavioral health care workforce and devise a plan to recruit and retain more qualified workers, according to a summary by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Democrat of New York. DOD must also conduct more detailed research into military mental health and rates of death by suicide, Warner said.

Spouse employment. The NDAA expands DOD authority to reimburse military spouses up to $1,000 for PCS-related relicensing, including costs incurred by spouses with home businesses, according to NMFA and Armed Services.

Dental care. For service personnel and families who can wait until 2026, that’s when the DOD is authorized to start a new TRICARE Dental program. The premium-sharing program must offer a choice of up to four plans to individuals, individuals plus one and families. The Military Officers Association of America said the program could create more competition in the marketplace, resulting in more choices and better access to dental care.

Learn more

Download the legislative language:
https://rules.house.gov/sites/democrats.rules.house.gov/files/BILLS-117HR7776EAS-RCP117-70.pdf.

Review summaries of the fiscal 2023 NDAA at these sites:

House Armed Services Committee: https://armedservices.house.gov/_cache/files/1/b/1b429234-37e5-4143-aede-c3d3e407047b/38F6CE52F989A9FE5EC3C3DF6DE5E [login to see] 7-fy23ndaa-full-text-bill-summary.pdf

Senate Armed Services Committee: https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/fy23_ndaa_agreement_summary.pdf

NMFA summary: https://www.militaryfamily.org/fy23-ndaa-wins-and-losses

Warner statement: https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2022/12/warner-applauds-inclusion-of-key-priorities-in-draft-of-annual-defense-bill

Gillibrand statement: https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/news/press/release/ahead-of-final-passage-senator-gillibrand-highlights-priorities-for-service-members-and-military-families-included-in-fy2023-ndaa

White House signing statement: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/12/23/statement-by-the-president-on-h-r-7776-the-james-m-inhofe-national-defense-authorization-act-for-fiscal-year-2023

dod-boosts-housing-and-other-resources-to-reduce-financial-pressures-faced-by-military-families.)

Response by CPT Richard Trione made Dec 23 at 2022 1:42 PM

2022-12-23T13:42:04-05:00

It is about time to remove those terrible mandates! Now, will the good service members be able to get their jobs back?????

Response by SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM made Dec 23 at 2022 5:53 PM

2022-12-23T17:53:21-05:00

Thanks for providing these summaries with links to the military community!

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 23 at 2022 6:42 PM

2022-12-23T18:42:12-05:00

Great timing, now that they have already kicked everyone out! It’s great we have leadership that doesn’t have a clue and can’t find their ass with either hand!

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 25 at 2022 7:02 PM

2022-12-25T19:02:42-05:00

We have retained some of the best and most capable leaders.

Response by Amn Dale Preisach made Dec 26 at 2022 2:17 PM

2022-12-26T14:17:54-05:00

Pay all those forced out by the mandate back pay and restore to rank.

Response by SPC Barbara Gibson made Jan 2 at 2023 2:20 AM

2023-01-02T02:20:22-05:00

Those who were Forced to leave should be offered the option to return without losing benefits, time in grade or any other impediment. It was pure Stupidity to push them out in the first place.

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Jan 7 at 2023 3:50 PM

2023-01-07T15:50:41-05:00

thanks for sharing

Response by 1SG Rick Seekman made Jan 8 at 2023 9:58 PM

2023-01-08T21:58:48-05:00

They should allow those, that were released to reenter if they still meet the requirements.

Response by SFC John Lovelady made Jan 11 at 2023 1:10 PM

2023-01-11T13:10:42-05:00

It would be nice that the Service Members who were wrongful discharged not electing to receive the vaccine, be allowed to come back to continue their careers.

Response by SSG William Zopff III made Feb 14 at 2023 1:22 PM

2023-02-14T13:22:04-05:00

Great news for Recruiting.

Response by SP5 Raymond Marvin made Mar 28 at 2023 10:27 AM

2023-03-28T10:27:30-04:00

I founded a R&D company,did not take the shot because of blood clot danger and religious belief.I gave my company to next in command and he took the shot.My company deals with the armor for the Abram M-1 tank,NASA heat shield tiles,hypersonic missile fuel perpetual energy,etc.We are mining rock from the Jordan river and about to mine jade from East Palestine,Ohio.National security is on the table.Should our state,Ohio, offer same as they did to China to place business in Michigan?God and country pledge of allegiance for employees and financial support or is our system two tiered as the justice system?

Response by SrA Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 27 at 2023 5:26 PM

2023-07-27T17:26:56-04:00

My wife got the Moderna vaccine, she had just got a $3 dollar an hour raise at work "civilian" job working retail. She got anxiety from it, heart palpitations, what was termed "COVID arm" too a 3" by 3" red welt where the initial injection was done that took 2-3 weeks to dissipate. We sent all of this information to Moderna and it turned out she was having some of their serious but rarer side effects.

She had to quit her job - that's how severe this got.

I remember some mouth breather trying to tell me that my wife was Anti-Vaccine, and I was like "No, she had the shot." What we could have done without was the serious side effects. She used to walk 5 to 7 miles on average per day, after the vaccine she had trouble walking around Costco without needing to lean on me.

This lethargy persisted for 2 years and she is almost getting back to what normal used to be for her. She is able to do an hour of cardio once again without being overly fatigued.

I had the Moderna shot and it made the soles of my feet and palms of my hands overly itchy, like it felt like I walked through poison oak or grabbed stingy nettle when I was in Boy Scouts of America and wouldn't do either.

My wife and I both eventually got Covid - but it was only after we got the vaccine shot, before we got the shot we had never gotten it but other family members had.

I think what was most disconcerting to me about everything regarding COVID is them not wanting to share with the world all of the information or wanting to hide everything they know about it from the general populous for the next 55 years.

"FDA asks for 55 years to complete FOIA request on Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine. Hungry for details on Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine? Just file a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request and wait until the U.S. tricentennial in 2076. That's the schedule the FDA proposed in documents filed in a U.S. District Court this week."

- Pulled that right off Google, nothing makes you feel more like a Guinea Pig than having stuff covered up. Am I right, or am I right?!

Lastly I'd like to add that a kid thanked me once for sharing my spouses symptoms on a chat forum with him, because his Mom had the same ones and he thought that she was just making it up since no one else seemed to have said issues.

When what was really happening is Social Media "Fake Book" was suppressing information to control the convoluted, or contrived narrative which they were complicit in pushing to make citizens compliant.