Hey, look what I did! Lawmakers scramble to take credit for popular NDAA provisions

So when the NDAA cleared the Senate by a whopping 88-11 vote yesterday and was sent to the White House for certain signing by President Joe Biden, it unleashed a flurry of self-congratulatory emails by members of both parties crowing about their individual contributions.

SENATE PASSES MAJOR DEFENSE POLICY BILL

SAMPLE HEADLINES: Here’s just a small sample of the subject lines of emails that emanated from Capitol Hill after the midday vote giving final approval to the measure:

• Reed, Inhofe Praise Senate Passage of National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022
• Wicker Touts Passage of Annual Defense Bill
• National Defense Bill with Peters-Led Provisions Heads to President’s Desk
• ​​Duckworth Creates Nonpartisan, Independent Afghanistan War Commission
• Gillibrand’s Groundbreaking Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Amendment Included In Final NDAA
• Hawley Secures Top Missouri Priorities in 2022 NDAA, Leads Effort to Remove Female Draft Provision
• Ernst Secures Critical Measures in Annual Defense Bill to Prevent Military Sexual Assault, Create Global War on Terrorism Memorial
• ​​Congress Approves Menendez Legislation to Bolster U.S. Defense Partnership with Greece 
• DelBene Closes Shipbuilding Loophole in Defense Authorization Bill
• Menendez, Wicker, Cardin INTERPOL Oversight Provision Approved in NDAA
• Senator Hassan Secures Key NH Priorities in Annual Defense Bill
• PASSED: Sen. Marshall Legislation to Prevent Dishonorable Discharges for Unvaccinated Servicemembers
• Senate Passes NDAA, Including Rounds’ South Dakota Priorities
• Van Hollen Secures Maryland Priorities in NDAA

NDAA IN BRIEF: This year’s National Defense Authorization Act supports a total of $777.7 billion in fiscal year 2022 funding for national defense, including $740 billion for the Pentagon and $27.8 billion for nuclear weapons programs under the Energy Department. The bill added $25 billion in defense spending over what President Biden requested, an increase that enjoyed wide bipartisan support.

What’s in:

• Reform of how the military investigates and prosecutes sexual assault and other offenses, including murder, manslaughter, kidnapping, and many other crimes
• $7.1 billion for the Pacific Deterrence Initiative to respond to actions by China
• $4 billion for the European Deterrence Initiative to counter Russian aggression 
• $300 million in security assistance to Ukraine 
• $3.5 billion in additional military construction projects above the president’s request
• A 2.7% pay raise for both the military and DOD civilian workforce
• An increase of $3 billion to modernize military technology, including hypersonic weapons, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, and biotechnologies
• $3.1 billion for the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine program 
• Establishes a commission to study U.S. involvement in Afghanistan from 2001-2021

REPUBLICANS MOVE TO BOOST LETHAL SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE

What’s out:

• A proposal to require women to register for the draft
• A bipartisan effort to repeal and replace the 1991 and 2002 Iraq War authorizations 
• A proposal to prohibit the use of emergency funding for enduring wars

REPUBLICAN PRIORITIES PREVAIL IN COMPROMISE $768 BILLION DEFENSE POLICY BILL

Good Thursday morning and welcome to Jamie McIntyre’s Daily on Defense, written and compiled by Washington Examiner National Security Senior Writer Jamie McIntyre (@jamiejmcintyre) and edited by Victor I. Nava. Email here with tips, suggestions, calendar items, and anything else. Sign up or read current and back issues at DailyonDefense.com. If signing up doesn’t work, shoot us an email and we’ll add you to our list. And be sure to follow us on Twitter: @dailyondefense.

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HAPPENING TODAY: President Joe Biden awards the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry to Army Master Sgt. Earl D. Plumlee for his actions in Iraq in 2005, and posthumously to Army Sgt. First Class Alwyn C. Cashe and Army Sgt. First Class Christopher A. Celiz for their actions in Afghanistan. The White House ceremony will be streamed live at 1:30 p.m. at https://www.dvidshub.net/webcast/27857.

You can read all three soldiers’ stories here.

ALSO TODAY: Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief of the National Guard Bureau, and Army Brig. Gen. Haldane Lamberton, adjutant general of the Kentucky National Guard, will brief reporters at 11 a.m. in Mayfield, one of the cities hardest hit by Sunday’s historic tornadoes.

The Pentagon says nearly 600 Kentucky National Guard soldiers and airmen are on the ground working with civilian authorities to expedite recovery efforts.

ONE MORE LAST CHANCE: The Navy yesterday issued guidance directing that any sailor who refuses to get vaccinated against COVID-19 will “be processed for separation at the earliest possible opportunity.”

But once the Navy begins the discharge process, sailors with second thoughts will have one last chance to save their careers.

“Service members currently refusing the vaccine who change their minds still have a path to stay in the Navy, even if they cannot meet the Navy’s stated vaccination deadlines,” the guidance states. “Once these sailors initiate their vaccination series, they can now work through their commands to report this updated status. … Unless there are extenuating circumstances, they could see administrative separations paused or stopped.”

“While the vast majority of Navy service members have already received the vaccine, it remains in the interest of the Navy to encourage remaining Navy service members to become fully vaccinated as soon as possible and, at such time, consider them for retention,” said Vice Adm. John Nowell, chief of naval personnel.

NAVY BEGINS REMOVING SAILORS WHO REFUSED COVID-19 VACCINE

5 GOP GOVERNORS FIGHT GUARD VACCINE MANDATE: The governors of five states have written a joint letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin arguing that his vaccine mandate for National Guard troops under state control exceeds his “constitutional and statutory authority.”

“We write to request you withdraw part of your and the Service Secretaries’ directives to National Guard members in their Title 32 duty status concerning the COVID-19 vaccine,” says the letter, signed by the governors of Iowa, Wyoming, Alaska, Mississippi, and Nebraska, all Republicans.

The letter follows the unsuccessful effort by Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt to convince Austin to exempt Guard troops under state control from the federal mandate. Austin argues that since Guard troops can be called up for federal service under Title 10, they must meet the same readiness standards as active duty troops.

“The concerns raised in your letter do not negate the need for this important military readiness requirement,” Austin wrote in a Nov. 29 response to Stitt.

The governors cite the militia clauses found in Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution, which they say clearly state: “… reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress.”

Vaccination rates for Guard troops are lagging the active duty forces, with National Guard vaccine rates well below those for the active duty forces. In the Air Force, for example, 97% of active duty airmen are vaccinated, compared to 92% in the Air National Guard.

COVID CUTS SHORT BLINKEN TRIP: Secretary of State Antony Blinken is skipping his final stop on his Asian trip after a journalist traveling with him tested positive for COVID-19.

Blinken was scheduled to visit Thailand next, but instead will be flying home to Washington from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Blinken and his staff have all tested negative for the virus.

NAT SEC NOMS: Among the latest nominations announced by the White House are:

• Frank Calvelli, a senior leader in Booz Allen Hamilton’s national security program, to be assistant secretary of the Air Force for space acquisition
• Franklin Parker, senior counsel for BAE Systems, to be assistant secretary of the Navy for manpower and reserve affairs
• Marvin Adams, professor of nuclear engineering at Texas A&M University, to be deputy director for defense programs, Department of Energy

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

The Rundown

Forbes: 5G Rollout Could Cripple Domestic Air Travel Within Weeks

Washington Examiner: Senate passes major defense policy bill

Washington Examiner: Navy begins removing sailors who refused COVID-19 vaccine

Washington Examiner: Defense official visits Hawaiian island affected by contaminated water crisis

Washington Examiner: Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin discuss security cooperation against US

Washington Examiner: China conducts live-fire drills after Blinken condemns ‘Beijing’s aggressive actions’ in South China Sea

Washington Examiner: NFL map endorses CCP’s claim that Taiwan is part of China

Washington Examiner: Analysis: Republicans move to boost lethal support for Ukraine

Washington Post: China Backs Russia In Its Demands For U.S. Security Guarantees After Putin-Xi Call

Defense News: Pacific Deterrence Initiative: A Look At Funding In The New Defense Bill, And What Must Happen Now

Reuters: Ukraine Sees No Sign Of Russia Withdrawing Troops From Border

AP: How brothers in arms plotted theft, sale of US Army weaponry

AP: US Navy fires laser weapon in Mideast amid drone boat threat

Defense One: Marines Remove AAVs From Deployment, Water Ops

USNI News: Damaged Attack Submarine USS Connecticut Leaves San Diego

Navy Times: The Navy Needs About Six Months To Separate Unvaccinated Sailors; Here’s What They Can Expect

USNI News: Witness’ Identification Of Sailor Accused In Bonhomme Richard Fire Comes Under Scrutiny

Air Force Magazine: BAE Gets $493 Million Contract to Upgrade F-35’s Electronic Warfare Suite

New York Times: Iran Budges On Cameras That Watch Nuclear Sites

19fortyfive.com: How the US Air Force Is Preparing for the Unthinkable: War with Russia or China

19fortyfive.com: Opinion: The US Navy Needs to Bring Back the First Fleet for the South China Sea

19fortyfive.com: Opinion: A Declaration to End the Korean War: Why Now?

Calendar

THURSDAY | DECEMBER 16

10 a.m. — Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe briefing on “Defending Ukraine, Deterring Putin,” with Andrew Bowen, analyst in Russian and European Affairs at the Congressional Research Service; Maryna Vorotnyuk, research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute; Katsiaryna Shmatsina, visiting fellow at the European Values Center for Security Policy; and Robert Lee, doctoral candidate at Kings College London https://bit.ly/3DHAGWu

10 a.m. — Carnegie Endowment for International Peace virtual discussion: “Is There a Future for Nuclear Arms Control?” with Anya Fink, research scientist at the CNA Russia Studies Program; Thomas MacDonald, fellow at the CEIP Nuclear Policy Program; and James Acton, co-director of the CEIP Nuclear Policy Program https://carnegieendowment.org/2021

11 a.m. — Heritage Foundation virtual discussion: “Vaccine Mandates Will Hamstring the Defense Industrial Base,” with Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala.; Wes Hallman, senior vice president for strategy and policy at the National Defense Industrial Association; and John Luddy, vice president of national security policy at the Aerospace Industries Association https://www.heritage.org/defense/event/vaccine-mandates

12 p.m. — American Security Project online discussion: “What’s Next for Afghanistan,” with former U.S. Ambassador to NATO Doug Lute; and Carter Malkasian, former special assistant for strategy to Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register

1 p.m. — Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association virtual discussion: “Cybersecurity and the New Space Race,” with Lt. Austin Gadient, space communications engineer at the Air Force Research Labs; Ryan Whitley, NASA space vehicle systems manager; Chuck Beames, executive chairman of York Space Systems; Chris Ellis, space cyber principal investigator for national security/cyber at the Battelle Memorial Institute; and Dave Pearah, Spider Oak Mission Systems CEO https://www.workcast.com/register

1 p.m. — Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft virtual discussion: “Should the U.S. Seek to Contain China?” with John Mearsheimer, nonresident fellow at the Quincy Institute and professor of political science at the University of Chicago; David Kang, nonresident fellow at the Quincy Institute and professor of International Relations at the University of Southern California; and Kelley Beaucar Vlahos, senior adviser at the Quincy Institute and editorial director online of the magazine Responsible Statecraft https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register

1:30 p.m. — CSIS Stephenson Ocean Security Project livestream event: “Ocean Security Forum 2021,” with Carlos Del Toro, secretary of the Navy; Adm. Karl Schultz, commandant, U.S. Coast Guard; Monica Medina, assistant secretary for oceans and international environmental and scientific affairs; Beth Lowell, vice president for U.S. campaigns, Oceana; Paul Woods, chief innovation officer, Global Fishing Watch; Duncan Copeland, executive director, Trygg Mat Tracking; Jared Dunnmon, technical director for AI and machine learning, DOD Defense Innovation Unit; Ian Ralby, CEO, I.R. Consilium; and Whit Saumweber, director, Stephenson Ocean Security Project https://www.csis.org/events/ocean-security-forum-2021

2 p.m. — Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments virtual discussion: “The History and Future of Arms Control,” with Tim Morrison, senior fellow at the Hudson Institute; and former Defense Undersecretary for Policy Eric Edelman, counselor at CSBA https://csbaonline.org/about/events

2 p.m. — Military Periscope and Government Business Council digital event: “DoD Looks to the Constellations” https://event.on24.com

FRIDAY | DECEMBER 17

1 p.m. — Council on Foreign Relations conversation with national security adviser Jake Sullivan with Richard Haass, president, Council on Foreign Relations and author of The World: A Brief Introduction. Audio and video will be posted on the CFR website. https://www.cfr.org/cfr-presents

1 p.m. — Center for Strategic and International Studies virtual discussion: “China’s Sphere of Influence in the Indo-Pacific,” with former Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs David Stilwell; and Graham Allison, professor of government at Harvard University https://www.csis.org/events/chinas-power-debate

3 p.m. — Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Research Center virtual “Spacepower Forum: Delta Commander’s Perspectives,” with Col. Matthew Holston; Col. Miguel Cruz; Col. Robert Long, moderated by retired Gen. Kevin Chilton, explorer chair for space warfighting studies at MI-SPARC https://go.afa.org https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register

SATURDAY | DECEMBER 18

Arlington National Cemetery — National Wreaths Across America Day to place wreaths on the more than 253,000 headstones at Arlington National Cemetery to honor the nation’s fallen service members and their families. @ArlingtonNatl