Bean Town Times

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) introduced a series of amendments to improve the FY24 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and support vulnerable servicemembers and communities. Rep. Pressley’s amendments would promote affordable childcare and trauma supports for servicemembers, stop the militarization of local law enforcement, demand transparency and accountability for Haiti, and more.

“The crises we face are layered and intersectional, and our policymaking must reflect that reality—including for our servicemembers,” said Rep. Pressley. “These amendments will help support military families by capping the cost of childcare, invest in trauma supports for our servicemembers, ending the militarization of policing that has harmed Black and Latinx communities, and address the hurt and harm so many are feeling.”

The amendments introduced by Rep. Pressley would:

• Lower childcare costs for servicemembers by capping the total fees charged to a family for childcare at no more than seven percent of gross household income, regardless of how many children of the family attend a military child development center. This amendment builds on Rep. Pressley’s ongoing advocacy for childcare investments and the care economy.
• Expand intensive outpatient treatment for servicemembers suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Traumatic Brain Injury, and Military Sexual Trauma, including treatment for substance abuse, depression, and other issues related to such conditions. This amendment continues Rep. Pressley’s longtime advocacy for trauma-informed policymaking, including for servicemembers.
• Place a moratorium on the transfer of military weapons to local law enforcement. This amendment is informed by Rep. Pressley’s People’s Justice Guarantee, a transformative reimagining of the American criminal legal system, which calls for an end to the 1033 program – a program that currently allows for the transfer of military equipment to federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement.
• Promote transparency and accountability for Haiti by requesting an updated report on the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse. Rep. Pressley is a Co-Chair of the House Haiti Caucus and a longtime advocate for an inclusive, civil society-led process to restore stability and democracy on the island.
• Address discrimination in the armed forces by directing the Secretary of Defense to submit a report to Congress on compliance with Title VI of Civil Rights Act.
• Promote safety in the offshore wind industry by requiring the Department of Defense to create safety standards for offshore wind energy.

Original source can be found here.