WASHINGTON – On July 14, the US House of Representatives passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023 in a vote of 329-101.
The NDAA serves as the backbone for US national security policy and priorities. The final bill contains $839 billion for national security spending, $37 billion above the president’s budget request. The bill builds on previous investments in cutting-edge technologies and innovations and the Association of Old Crows (AOC) applauds the US House of Representatives and the House Armed Services Committee for advancing this critical legislation for the 62nd consecutive year.
During floor consideration, the House considered hundreds of amendments, including Amendment #223. As a result of recent engagement by the AOC with Electromagnetic Warfare Working Group members, Representative Rick Larsen (D-WA), along with Representatives Jim Langevin (D-RI) and Don Bacon (R-NE), offered Amendment #223. This amendment advocates for DOD’s increased transparency of the Electromagnetic Spectrum Superiority Strategy Implementation Plan. This language was included as part of an En Bloc Package during the floor debate of the NDAA.
Amendment #223 states it is the sense of Congress that electromagnetic spectrum superiority underpins DOD’s National Defense Strategy, and as such, directs the Secretary of Defense to provide Congress with an unclassified version of the Implementation Plan for the Electromagnetic Spectrum Superiority Strategy in all future updates to the plan. It also states the Secretary of Defense should strengthen governance reforms and provide a response to persistent gaps in joint electromagnetic spectrum operations when implementing the Electromagnetic Spectrum Superiority Strategy.
AOC is pleased this language made it into the House-passed NDAA and looks forward to the provision making it into the final conference package. AOC will follow the progress of NDAA closely and urges Congress to pass the bill on time to the benefit of US national security and defense.
About the AOC: The Association of Old Crows is an organization for individuals who have common interests in Electronic Warfare, Electromagnetic Spectrum Management Operations, Cyber Electromagnetic Activities, Information Operations and other information related capabilities. The Association of Old Crows provides a means of connecting members and organizations nationally and internationally across government, defense, industry, and academia to promote the exchange of ideas and information and provides a platform to recognize advances and contributions in these fields. www.crows.org
