Congress Debates FY25 NDAA
[Stay on top of transportation news: Get TTNews in your inbox.]
A comprehensive defense policy measure recently approved in the U.S. House of Representatives proposes security enhancements for trucks at military bases and a review of a new moving contract.
The chamber this month passed the National Defense Authorization Act by a vote of 217 to 199. Tucked in the bill is a provision that would require the Government Accountability Office to examine programs and procedures associated with the U.S. Transportation Command’s Global Household Goods Contract (GHC). The bill also would require the commander of the U.S. Transportation Command to provide an update to Congress this year on the program.
American Trucking Associations welcomed the moving contract provisions. In a statement to Transport Topics, ATA press secretary and senior communications adviser Sean McNally said, “The ATA Moving & Storage Conference applauds the House Armed Services Committee for including two important provisions providing necessary and increased oversight to [Department of Defense’s] Defense Personal Property Program and its Global Household Goods Contract program.”
“The provisions, including an independent GAO assessment of the GHC, will examine key areas in the program’s development and implementation, including secured industry capacity and application of the Service Contract Act that have a direct impact on military readiness and quality of life,” McNally added. “The ATA-MSC executive committee first called for this review of the GHC program’s feasibility last year, and the conference has been engaged with leaders on the Armed Services Committee, including Readiness Subcommittee Chairman [Mike] Waltz.”
Waltz
A coalition of professional movers and independent owner-operators called “Movers for America” also applauded the GAO review. The group has been proposing the review as well as a pause to the program “until results are clear.”
“On behalf of many of the companies and independent haulers who currently move our military families, we thank the congressional leaders who are asking important questions and pushing for a credible, independent evaluation of this untested plan — before military families suffer the significant consequences of a failure,” the group said in a June 18 statement. “For months, the moving industry has been raising serious concerns about the program’s viability as it’s currently designed, its funding levels, and the impacts of replacing a competitive system with a monopoly. In the interest of our service families and of American competitiveness, we urge Congress to push pause on GHC implementation until all these questions are satisfactorily answered, subject to a hard look by the GAO.”
According to a report prepared by the House Armed Services panel that accompanied the bill, the GAO review will seek to determine “the extent to which the [Defense] Department is monitoring and utilizing feedback from across the military services regarding the new processes and systems established by the [Global Household Goods Contract], to include effects on personnel rotation planning and readiness requirements” as well as the “extent to which the new GHC technology is functional, user-friendly for service members, civilians and their families, and integrated between the department, individual services, military families, and the prime and subcontractors.”
Garamendi
The U.S. Transportation Command has indicated the Defense Personal Property Program’s GHC aim is to facilitate the relocation process for military personnel and their families. Per the contract, HomeSafe Alliance was tasked with managing a network of commercial moving companies. Its operations cover services associated with relocation.
Also included in the annual defense bill is a provision designed to enhance security guidelines for transport freight operators at military bases and installations. The provision builds on enacted policy.
Waltz, chairman of the Readiness Subcommittee, promoted the measure. “It’s critical we continue to support our service members, and their families, who have answered the call of duty and provide our warfighters with training, equipment, and support they need to protect our great nation,” he said last month.
“No legislation of this scope is perfect, and this year’s NDAA under the House Republican majority is no exception. But I am pleased to have worked in a bipartisan manner to ensure that this must-pass legislation addresses the critical issues for our military families and national security,” added Rep. John Garamendi (D-Calif.), the subcommittee’s ranking member.
Want more news? Listen to today's daily briefing above or go here for more info
The Senate Armed Services Committee on June 14 approved its NDAA version by a vote of 22-3. Its floor consideration has not been scheduled. “Passing the NDAA takes bipartisanship — that means you don’t win everything — and I’m grateful that my colleagues share a common agreement that getting this bill to the Senate floor and ultimately the president’s desk is our paramount responsibility,” said committee Chairman Jack Reed, (D-R.I.) who opposed the bill. “I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate and House to find practical ways to strengthen this year’s defense bill.”
Each year, the bipartisan NDAA, which seeks to advance increases in salaries and health care benefits for military personnel, is cleared by both chambers for enactment.
