Rep. Johnson’s amendments to defense spending bill passed by HASC

Congressman’s fights police militarization; secures passage of five (5) key amendments in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) adopted for FY16

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA) announced today that he successfully passed several key amendments in the FY16 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) this week. In an 18-hour marathon session, the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) considered hundreds of amendments to the spending legislation. The following are several key amendments Rep. Johnson successfully passed in HASC:

• Increase science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) & Minority Institutions (MIs) by $10 million to $35.9 million;

• Requests that the Department of Defense to increase advertising within minority communities by utilizing more minority-owned media outlets and advertising agencies that have demonstrated an ability to connect with minority communities. It directs the Secretary of Defense to provide a briefing by March 1, 2016, on said efforts;

• Improves the public website that will list information on transfers of equipment through the 1033 program by requiring the information be posted by state, county, recipient agency, and year of transfer. The amendment requires that all requests for the transfer of equipment be posted for 30 days before the request can be approved, allowing the public to have an opportunity to express concerns to local elected officials. The amendment ensures that the federal government will study the impact of military equipment on the relationship between police and their community and makes technical corrections to the bill;

• Requires DOD to provide Congress with an assessment of the security situation in Bahrain and the possible effects of ongoing instability on U.S. military assets, including personnel and their families in the country, as well as to report on contingency planning for U.S. personnel and ongoing operations;

• Requires the Department of Defense to provide a report to the House Armed Services Committee on its procedures and policies for screening, prevention and treatment of Hepatitis A, B, and C.

Rep. Johnson is disappointed by the unanimous Republican support for continuing to militarize police through the Department of Defense 1033 program. Rep. Johnson offered three commonsense amendments to rein in this program that were opposed by every Republican on the House Armed Services Committee:

• Repeal the requirement that law enforcement demonstrate the use, within one year, of military equipment received under the 1033 program, and strike an unnecessary study of that requirement;

• Require the Secretary of Defense to provide to Congress an annual certification accounting for all military equipment transferred to local law enforcement;

• Prohibits transfers of M16’s and Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles (MRAP’s)