WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) announced that several provisions he worked to advance have been successfully adopted and passed as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year (FY) 2022.
There are several priorities included in the 2022 NDAA for which Senator Casey advocated.
PFAS
Senator Casey helped secure the inclusion of a number of provisions to advance research and a path toward remediation of toxic exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). He has been at the forefront of efforts to address PFAS contamination in drinking water in Bucks and Montgomery Counties as a result of the use of a toxic firefighting agent at military installations.
Over the last several years, Senator Casey helped lead efforts to authorize and increase funding for a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study on the health effects of PFAS exposure. The FY22 NDAA authorizes that study for an additional 2 years.
The legislation also directs the Department of Defense to complete assessments and inspections of all current and former military bases for PFAS to establish a baseline and inform further remedial actions. The legislation requires the Department of Defense to publicly disclose the testing results from these sites.
Further, the FY22 NDAA requires three reports by the Department of Defense—the first detailing a proposed schedule for the completion of PFAS remediation, the second providing the status of PFAS remediation efforts at 50 bases around the country including Horsham Air Guard Station and the third analyzing procurement of military items containing PFAS.
Military
Justice Reform
Senator Casey supported significant steps to improve the response and prevention of sexual assault in the military. For the first time in the military’s history, sexual harassment is a crime, and military commanders are removed from initial judicial decisions related to the prosecution of rape, sexual assault, murder and manslaughter crimes. Moving those decisions outside of the chain of command is a step toward fairer investigations and justice for victims. Senator Casey will continue to push for further reforms to the military justice system and to ensure justice for all servicemembers.
Service member Mental Health
Senator Casey helped to lead the inclusion of a provision enabling troops to get mental health support when they need it. Servicemembers will now be able to refer themselves for a mental health evaluation, and commanders will be required to ensure the appointment happens “as soon as practicable.” The FY22 NDAA is a vital component of larger efforts to provide the mental health support our service members need.
Veterans Recognition
Senator Casey led a provision to recognize Purple Heart recipients on the military’s valor website. The FY22 NDAA requires the Department of Defense to take its first step toward including Purple Heart awardees on the valor website. Recognition of veterans’ sacrifices is the least that can be done to begin to repay the country’s debts to them.
PA Industrial Base
Senator Casey led the inclusion of two provisions supporting the PA defense industrial base. One provision directed the Army to conduct an updated analysis of its mission requirements for the cannon tubes used to build American artillery pieces and tank main guns. The other expressed the Army’s commitment to additive manufacturing and machine learning and the potential of related activities to accelerate expeditionary manufacturing capabilities and strengthen defense industrial supply chains. Pennsylvanian leadership in Ellwood City and Pittsburgh on these initiatives continues to prove critical to U.S. national security.
