Congressman Tony Gonzales Applauds House Passage of Amendments in FY23 NDAA

I applaud the passage of this year’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in the U.S. House of Representatives. This package includes four amendments authored by me. TX-23 is home to critical military installations including Joint Base San Antonio, Laughlin Air Force Base, and Fort Bliss. 

I am thrilled to see the inclusion and House passage of four of my amendments in this year’s NDAA. Our national security is more important than ever as we face cyber-attacks and threats from countries like China, Russia, and Iran. This package strengthens our national defense, bolsters our cybersecurity, and supports our servicemembers and their families through improved resources.

My initiatives in the NDAA:

• Forms a National Digital Reserve Corps comprised of civilian individuals with relevant skills and credentials to address digital, AI, and cybersecurity needs across the federal government.
• Establishes a pilot program providing eligible military spouses with a spouse-specific Training Assistance Program focusing on employment services, offering guidance on available health care resources, and training in mental health first aid to learn crisis management strategies. 
• Requires the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to report on difficulty of filling civilian support services jobs at remote or isolated military installations.
• Instructs the Department of Defense to assess the availability of local infant and early childhood mental health services on or near military installations, requires a review of best practices, and authorizes a workforce development curriculum with the purpose of improving the quality and availability of mental health services for children and infants of military families.

I served two decades in the U.S. Navy, retiring in 2019 as a Master Chief Petty Officer.