National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023
The James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 is a United States federal law which specifies the budget, expenditures and policies of the U.S. Department of Defense for fiscal year 2023. Analogous NDAAs have been passed annually for over 60 years.
History
The House bill was passed on July 14, 2022. Hearings on the Senate amendment in the House Committee on Rules were scheduled for December 4. On December 6, a political agreement was reached between the leaders of the Senate Armed Services Committee and House Armed Services Committee. President Biden signed and enacted on December 23, 2022. In his signing statement, Biden expressed reservations about restrictions on the transfer of Guantánamo Bay detainees, the potential infringement on the President's constitutional authority regarding national security and sensitive intelligence information, and limitations on the President's discretion in foreign policy and international negotiations.Provisions
Military funding authorized by the bill includes:- Full funding of the Ford-class carriers
- Full funding of the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines
The NDAA requires the Secretary of Defense to rescind the directive, implemented in August 2022, that members of the U.S. armed forces be vaccinated against COVID-19. During the period the requirement was in effect, 98% of active duty service members and 96% of all service members had been vaccinated. The bill does not require reinstatement for personnel previously ejected for non-compliance with the order.
Section 583 of this NDAA authorizes the president to posthumous promote Ulysses S. Grant to the grade of General of the Armies of the United States, equal to the rank and precedence held by both George Washington on July 4, 1976 and General John J. Pershing in and after 1919.
Unidentified flying objects (UFOs)
The NDAA and its Intelligence Authorization Act includes provisions for reporting of unidentified flying objects, otherwise known as unidentified aerial phenomena or UAPs, including whistleblower protections and exemptions to nondisclosure orders and agreements. It also requires the military to review UFO sightings back to 1945.Language on the topic of UAP was also included in the previous 2022 NDAA, the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022, as well as an accompanying Senate Select Committee on Intelligence report for the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021.
BURMA Act of 2022
This included the Burma Unified through Rigorous Military Accountability Act of 2022. The Act aims to restore democracy and address human rights violations in the country through sanctions on leaders of the Myanmar military, members of the State Administrative Council which was chaired by the commander-in-chief of the military, military-affiliated business entities, conglomerates and state-owned enterprises such as the Myanmar Oil Gas Enterprise - which are the revenue sources of the military and the operational sources to military materials. The sanctions additionally include freezing of assets held in the U.S.’s banks, foreign exchange transactions, and travel bans on individuals for their entry to the United States. It also includes supporting pro-democracy groups, such as the National Unity Government, and providing different types of assistance to strengthen federalism and non-lethal assistance for Ethnic Armed Organizations. The provision of humanitarian assistance for refugees, internally displaced persons, and victims of violence is also mentioned to be continued. The Act provides the president with additional discretionary authority to make policy changes with respect to Myanmar and enables the secretary of state to assist civilian and international entities with identifying and documenting war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide in Myanmar.In response, the Burmese junta issued a statement dubbing the legislation an interference in Myanmar's internal affairs, and encroachment of the country's sovereignty. The Government of the People's Republic of China also increased diplomatic efforts to engage ethnic armed organizations and the junta to protect their business and geopolitical interests.