Cortez Masto Applauds Passage of 2020 NDAA, Successfully Ensures No FY2020 Funding for Yucca Mountain, Secures Critical Military Housing Reforms
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement on the final passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2020, which does not authorize any funding for the failed Yucca Mountain project for FY2020 and includes language from Senator Cortez Masto’s Servicewomen’s Health Transition Training Act to help increase servicewomen’s awareness of VA benefits and other services to help them transition to civilian life. The FY2020 NDAA also includes reforms Senator Cortez Masto introduced in her Better Military Housing Act of 2019 to improve the management of privatized military housing installations and prioritize the needs of Nevada’s service members and military installations. As part of the legislation, critical priorities for the Senator, like the repeal of the widow’s tax on military families and paid family leave of up to 12 weeks for every federal employee, were also included. “I’m proud to have worked to ensure the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act denies the authorization of funding for Yucca Mountain, funds Nevada’s military bases and includes my bipartisan legislation to help women veterans access VA benefits and to improve the quality of privatized military housing. These much-needed reforms will help improve the quality of life for the men, women, and families who sacrifice every day for our country. I’m also glad to see additional provisions in the NDAA which require the Department of Defense to seriously consider the national security threats of climate change, eliminate the military widow’s tax and ensure federal workers are able to receive paid family leave to care for themselves and their families. I’ll continue to fight for Nevada’s priorities and support our brave service members and their families.” |
BACKGROUND: The following are Senator Cortez Masto’s legislative and funding initiatives that were included in the final passage of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020: Senator Cortez Masto worked to block any funding to restart the failed Yucca Mountain project in FY2020. Senator Cortez Masto fought for funding for important projects at Nevada’s military installations, including:
### |
Next Release Previous Release