Sewell Secured Record Funding for HBCUs and Critical Supports for Alabama’s Military Installations in the Annual Defense Funding Package

Washington D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07), a proud member of the House Armed Services Committee, announced the inclusion of key priorities in H.R. 1282, the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Passed annually by Congress since 1961, the NDAA authorizes funding levels for the Department of Defense (DoD) and allows the Armed Forces to pay, train, and equip U.S. service members, support America’s allies around the world, and carry out essential national security operations. Thanks to requests and amendments offered by Rep. Sewell, the NDAA supports Maxwell Air Force Base and Alabama’s Air National Guard installations, includes record funding to support Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and makes substantial investments in the health and well-being of our service members and their families. The FY24 NDAA was marked up by the House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday and passed out of the Committee by a bipartisan vote of 58 to 1. It will now make its way to the House Floor for a vote.

“As a proud member of the House Armed Services Committee and the representative for critical military installations in Alabama, I take very seriously my responsibility to ensure that our service members get the tools and support they need to keep our nation safe,” said Rep. Sewell. “I’m thrilled to report that this year’s NDAA includes my provisions to continue modernizing Alabama’s Air National Guard facilities and support leadership training at Maxwell Air Force Base.”

“I was also proud to help secure numerous provisions to support our nation’s HBCUs in this year’s NDAA,” continued Sewell. “Our HBCUs perform critical research and help train a talented and diverse group of students whose skills are an asset to our national security. We must ensure that their potential does not go untapped. Thanks to a series of amendments and requests that we submitted, this NDAA strengthens the partnership between our military and our HBCUs, creates a workforce pipeline for minority students, and includes a record $125 million to invest in cutting-edge research at HBCUs.”

As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Sewell secured the inclusion of key priorities in the FY24 NDAA including:

• Modernizing Alabama’s Air National Guard Facilities - The NDAA includes Rep. Sewell’s amendment directing the Secretary of the Air Force to brief the Armed Services Committee on facility modernization plans for Air National Guard installations in Alabama including the 117th Air Refueling Wing in Birmingham.

• Recognizing Air Force Professional Development Education at Maxwell Air Force Base - Thanks to a request submitted by Rep. Sewell, the NDAA acknowledges the important role Air University at Maxwell Air Force Base plays in training our brightest Air Force leaders, paving the way for innovative research, and advancing USAF combat operations.

• Increasing Research Funding for HBCUs and Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) - The NDAA includes an amendment that Rep. Sewell co-sponsored to boost research funding for HBCUs and MSIs by $20 million. In total, this year’s NDAA includes a record $125 million to support cutting-edge research programs at HBCUs and MSIs and create workforce pipelines from minority and underserved communities.

• Expanding DoD Partnership with HBCUs - The NDAA includes Rep. Sewell’s amendment to strengthen and expand partnerships between DoD and our nation’s HBCUs. The amendment directs the Air Force to brief the House Armed Services Committee on how it plans to partner with HBCUs to leverage their expertise in the areas of cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and Additive Manufacturing.

• Expanding Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) Programs at HBCUs - The NDAA includes a provision directing the Secretary of the Air Force to submit a report to the House Committee on Armed Services that includes an assessment of the feasibility of expanding Air Force ROTC programs at HBCUs, the cost of such an expansion to HBCUs, and the number of HBCUs that qualify for an Air Force ROTC program.

• Combating Opioid Addiction Among Service Members - The NDAA includes Rep. Sewell’s amendment requiring the Secretary of Defense to brief Congress on DoD’s efforts to reduce opioid addiction among servicemembers and expand the use of non-opioid treatment alternatives.

• Tackling Hunger Among Military Families - The NDAA includes an amendment cosponsored by Rep. Sewell to explore the process of improving the certification process for military families accessing free- and reduced-price school meals.

• Combatting Breast Cancer - The NDAA includes an amendment cosponsored by Rep. Sewell requiring the Secretary of Defense to brief the Armed Services Committee on DoD’s efforts to screen for breast cancer among TRICARE beneficiaries.

As the rules-based international order continues to face threats from around the world, this year’s NDAA authorizes crucial investments in America’s global alliances and partnerships. The NDAA includes robust investments to address the challenges posed by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as well as acute threats from Russia and North Korea. It supports our nation’s service members and military families with a 5.2% pay raise, ensuring we continue to invest in our military’s greatest asset—our people.