U.S. Rep. John Katko (NY-2) today, September 24th, announced nine measures he authored and critical funding levels for local manufacturers and workers were included in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2022. This bipartisan legislation, which Rep. Katko voted in support of, authorizes the budget and expenditures for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) for Fiscal Year 2022.

For U.S. service members, the NDAA for Fiscal Year 2022 authorizes a 2.7% pay increase, expands parental leave and childcare programs, and reverses the Biden Administration’s cuts to military healthcare programs. Importantly for Central New York, the NDAA includes bills Katko introduced to combat Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses, eliminate workforce barriers for immigrant families, and address cases of sexual harassment in public housing. The NDAA also includes Rep. Katko’s Onward to Opportunity Act, a measure inspired by programming offered by the Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) at Syracuse University. Katko’s bill builds off the IVMF’s successes by creating a pilot program within the DoD to expand workforce development services for servicemembers, veterans, and their spouses.

“I’m pleased to announce the NDAA passed in the House with nine bills I authored and federal funding I advocated for to support Central New York’s workforce,” said Rep. Katko. “Critically for our region, the NDAA includes bills I introduced to combat Lyme disease, eliminate workforce barriers for new Americans, address cases of sexual harassment in public housing, and expand workforce development services for servicemembers, veterans, and their spouses. I’m proud the measures I authored within the NDAA will make important progress on pressing issues in Central New York.”

Summaries of Katko-authored measures included in NDAA can be found below:

Onward to Opportunity Act: This legislation would build off Syracuse University’s IVMF successes by authorizing the Department of Defense (DoD) to establish a pilot program to support the expansion of Onward to Opportunity programs at five additional U.S. Military bases. The pilot program would require DoD to partner with private organizations, such as the Syracuse University’s IVMF, with existing and effective economic development and readiness programs that help military families make a more seamless transition to civilian life by expanding workforce development services for servicemembers, veterans, and their spouses.

Read the rest of the summaries.