Congressional Delegate VI Stacey Plaskett announced that a bill recently passed by the House of Representatives included an amendment to give Virgin Islands service members a raise.
The bill, HR7900, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023, authorizes funding levels for the Department of Defense. The NDAA has been passed annually by Congress since 1961, according to a statement from Plaskett’s office.
Plaskett said the NDAA legislation will provide for a 4.6% wage increase for uniformed and civilian personnel, 2.4% inflation bonuses for military members earning less than $45,000 a year, and a minimum wage. $15 an hour for federal contractors.
The NDAA contains these changes, proposed by Plaskett, for US territories:
• Amendment requiring a Department of Defense report to Congress on US military capabilities in the Caribbean Basin, particularly in and around the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. The report would include an assessment of the value, feasibility and cost of increasing US capabilities in the Caribbean. In addition, it would include an assessment of the position of US military forces in the Caribbean.
• Amendment requiring the Department of Veterans Affairs to establish the U.S. Outlying Regions Advisory Committee, to provide advice and guidance to the VA on matters relating to veterans residing in U.S. territories, including the Virgin Islands . Among other duties, the committee would be required to advise the VA on how to improve its programs and services to better serve veterans living in the listed areas.
Plaskett said a companion bill must now be picked up and passed by the Senate. The Senate will adopt its version in the coming months and both versions, both House and Senate, will likely go to conference. A final version will be negotiated and then head to the president’s desk, Plaskett said.
The House of Representatives also passed Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act (S.3373). The bill makes veterans who, during their military service, were exposed to fireplaces or other toxic substances automatically eligible for VA health care and disability benefits if they develop the disease. one of nearly two dozen diseases, conditions and categories of cancer specified by the bill.
The bill also includes Plaskett’s amendment to require a Government Accountability Office study and report on access to and barriers to veterans’ benefits and services in U.S. territories.
The NDAA legislation would also provide:
• Support for the Ukrainian people, including $1 billion for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative and additional efforts to reduce US dependence on Russian energy.
• Resources for minority-serving institutions, including more than $111 million in HBCU research funding.
• Investments in next-generation defense technology, including $275 million to fund advances in hypersonics, electronic warfare and artificial intelligence.
• Civilian injury mitigation measures, including the creation of a Civilian Injury Commission and a Center of Excellence for Civilian Injury Mitigation.
• Improvements in supply chain security, including assessment of dual-use technologies and strengthening risk management for pharmaceutical supply chains.
• Expanded cooperation with US allies, including anti-trafficking and climate resilience efforts.
