Press Release

Bera Applauds the Passage of FY 2020 National Defense Authorization Act

The bill includes Bera provisions on pandemic preparedness and financial literacy support for veterans

Congressman Ami Bera, M.D. (CA-07) voted yesterday to help pass the FY 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which passed the House of Representatives in a strong bipartisan vote. The NDAA provides the annual budget for the Department of Defense.

"I'm proud to vote for a bill that provides a much-needed pay increase for our brave servicemembers while funding a strong and smart national security strategy," said Rep. Bera, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.

The NDAA provides a 3.1 percent pay raise for servicemembers, provides federal employees with 12 weeks paid parental leave, and repeals the unfair "widow's tax" penalty for surviving spouses of servicemembers.

Included in the bill are four provisions introduced by Bera, including a provision that explores best practices for providing financial literacy education to separating servicemembers and veterans.

"America's veterans have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country and they deserve our unwavering support. I am proud that my amendment was included in the NDAA, which supports financial literacy resources to our veterans to help with their financial decision making."

Additional Bera provisions are aimed at strengthening US capacity to prepare and respond to pandemics and explore US-India defense cooperation in the Western Indian Ocean.