Rep. Schrier’s Priorities to Help Firefighters, Military Spouses Pass House in Final 2020 Defense Bill

December 8, 2020

WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D.'s (WA-08) priorities to help local firefighters and military spouses passed the House today as part of the final Defense bill of the year, the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The NDAA is annual legislation to maintain military readiness, enhance capabilities, and prioritize technological security. It is expected to pass the Senate later this month. This is the 60^th NDAA to pass the House of Representatives.

"As we saw this fall, Washington state's wildland firefighters are being asked to fight increasingly extreme wildfires with limited budgets," said Rep. Schrier. "The Department of Defense has two programs that transfer excess equipment like tools, trucks, and vehicle parts to the U.S. Forest Service to be distributed to states. My amendment will ensure these programs work better for volunteer fire, EMS, and rescue agencies in Washington State by making them more accessible and taking community need and risk into account."

The Department of Defense (DOD) Firefighter Property Program (FFP) and the Federal Excess Personal Property Program (FEPP) transfer excess equipment to states and other qualified entities. Equipment is offered on a first-come, first-served basis and does not take community need and risk into account. Rep. Schrier's amendment requires an analysis of the program to ensure equipment is distributed efficiently where it is needed most. It also requires DOD to consult with State Foresters and other stakeholders throughout the process.

Rep. Schrier's other amendment makes job opportunities more accessible to military spouses, who often have a difficult time finding long-term work because of frequent relocations.

Rep. Schrier continued, "Military spouses continue to experience high levels of underemployment and unemployment. My amendment addresses issues and concerns from a series of military and veteran spouse listening sessions held throughout the state in 2019 by the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs and the Washington State Employment Security Department. Language I championed in this NDAA will lead to expanded opportunities for military spouses in the fields of education, software and coding, and companies with high levels of teleworking to ensure military spouses are matched with fulfilling and successful employment."

The 2021 NDAA:

Provides a long sought-after benefit for tens of thousands of Vietnam-era veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange;
Provides a 3% pay raise for troops,
Extends paid parental leave to approximately 100,000 federal civilians inadvertently excluded from last year's legislation;
Removes all names, symbols, displays, monuments, and paraphernalia that honor or commemorate the Confederate States of America;
Includes the Elijah Cummings Federal Employee Antidiscrimination Act that requires each federal agency to establish a model Equal Employment Opportunity Program that is independent of the agency's Human Capital or General Counsel office and establishes requirements related to complaints of discrimination and retaliation in the workplace.

Rep. Schrier's floor speech on the two amendments from earlier this year.