Larsen outlines local priorities for Fiscal Year 2024 defense policy bill

||| FROM THE OFFICE OF REP. RICK LARSEN |||

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) outlined his local priorities for inclusion in the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) during the House Armed Services Committee’s Member Day hearing. Larsen’s priorities include:

Jet Noise Reduction Research

• Larsen has long worked with the Navy and local communities to mitigate the impacts of base operations at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island on surrounding communities and people.
• In last year’s NDAA, Larsen supported a review of how the Department of Defense (DoD) can better support noise insulation and noise mitigation investments for communities affected by jet noise.
• Larsen is requesting the Committee include a provision in the FY24 NDAA requiring the Navy to provide a report and briefing on the status of their ongoing jet noise reduction research.

Helping Wounded Servicemembers and Veterans Start a Family

• Larsen has met with veterans and servicemembers who struggle with having children due to medical complications as a result of their service.
• In last year’s House-passed NDAA, Larsen included a provision to create a pilot initiative to give servicemembers and veterans the option of starting a family by cryopreserving eggs or sperm before a deployment. The provision was not included in the final version of the NDAA.
• Larsen is requesting the Committee include a provision in the FY24 NDAA establishing a pilot initiative to cryopreserve gametes prior to training and deployments to enable servicemembers to have a family should a dramatic injury occur.

Financial Literacy for Military Families

• Larsen is focused on breaking down barriers and creating opportunities for all servicemembers and their families to participate in the economy and democracy.
• The DoD identifies financial readiness as one of the major components of family readiness and, ultimately, operational readiness.
• Larsen is requesting the Committee include a provision in the FY24 NDAA requiring DoD Education Activity schools to add a financial literacy course as a high school graduation requirement.

Funding Constellation Class Frigate Shipbuilding

• Larsen has long advocated for Naval Station Everett as the ideal location for future Navy and Coast Guard homeporting.
• In 2021, the Navy designated Everett as its future homeport for the initial Constellation class frigates, a new and improved class of small surface combat ships, which are expected to arrive in 2026.
• Larsen is requesting the Committee include a provision in the FY24 NDAA supporting the Navy’s shipbuilding request and fully fund the Constellation class shipbuilding budget.

Fostering Emerging Technologies

• As a member of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, Larsen is a strong supporter of NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA), which will enable NATO allies to adopt and integrate innovative technologies.
• In last year’s NDAA, Larsen requested funding for DIANA and pushed for the DoD to select a new U.S. representative to the DIANA board. In October, Barbara McQuiston was named the U.S. representative to the board and was recently elected Chair of the board. Additionally, in March, the Pacific Northwest Mission Acceleration Center in Seattle was selected as the second DIANA accelerator site in the U.S.
• Larsen is requesting the Committee continue to invest in DIANA in the FY24 NDAA.