Moulton Announces Local Victories in 2022 National Defense Authorization Act
Funding for GE’s Lynn ITEP program, AI/AA Analytics among priorities that will head to the President’s desk
SALEM, Mass. – Today, Representative Seth Moulton (D-MA) announced that the Senate passed the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act, legislation that authorizes the federal government to spend money on the nation’s defense. The bill includes a number of locally-important measures Moulton has championed as a member of the House Armed Services Committee.
The bill is headed to President Biden’s desk.
“Today, the United States faces challenges and threats from countries like China and Russia. We must confront these threats, and we will do it by out-innovating, out-competing and out-performing our adversaries. We must spend the nation’s precious resources differently, thinking not about what we’ve done in the past, but about what the next-generation will need in order to win,” Moulton said. “Since the day patriots built the Springfield Armory in 1777, Massachusetts has led the nation in defense innovation. I am proud to continue that legacy today by including investments in the NDAA that will grow our state’s economy and create great local jobs. I am also proud to see so many critical pieces of the Future of Defense Task Force included in this year’s authorization act.”
The National Defense Authorization Act sets the funding levels, expenditures and authorizations for the Department of Defense. Every year, the House and Senate Armed Services Committee write their own versions of NDAA. The House and Senate versions are then negotiated into a final bill which is sent to the president’s desk to be signed into law. The bill passed today is the final version of the NDAA.
Moulton worked to ensure this year’s National Defense Authorization Act included the following locally-important items:
FUNDING FOR THE GE ITEP PROGRAM:
The FY 2022 NDAA includes $315M in funding for General Electric’s Improved Turbine Engine Program (ITEP), which makes a new generation of helicopter engines for the military’s Blackhawk and Apache helicopters. Moulton has worked hard to secure funding for the ITEP program since his first days in Congress because part of the program is based in Lynn.
DEVELOPMENT FOR AI/AA ANALYTICS FOR MODERNIZATION AND READINESS:
The FY 2022 NDAA includes funding for further development of Artificial Intelligence with Northeastern, in partnership with the Army.
This funding will provide resources towards AI research and development to support national security goals, like improved situational awareness and imagery analysis. Moulton has consistently promoted investment in emerging technologies through his work on the Future of Defense Task Force and will continue that work here.
DISTRIBUTED RADIO FREQUENCY SENSOR:
The FY 2022 NDAA includes funding for research and development of new approaches for distributed radio frequency with Northeastern. This will enable critical technologies and capabilities like radar, passive sensing, and electronic warfare. Moulton has consistently promoted investment in emerging technologies through his work on the Future of Defense Task Force and will continue that work here.
MISSION MANAGEMENT PILOT PROGRAM:
The FY 2022 NDAA includes $100M funding that will promote the rapid acquisition and fielding of innovative solutions from both traditional and nontraditional defense industries. These funds are in line with recommendations from the Future of Defense Task Force, and will help the many innovative companies within the district provide their solutions to the military.
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