Congressman Tom Barrett of Michigan’s 7th District called on the House Armed Services Committee on April 15 to include three pieces of legislation he is leading in the upcoming National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Barrett’s proposals focus on aviation safety reforms and restoring certain education benefits for former servicemembers who were discharged for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
The NDAA is an annual legislative package that sets policy and authorizes funding levels for the U.S. military. The inclusion of Barrett’s bills could impact aviation safety standards across military operations and address benefit eligibility issues affecting veterans discharged during the pandemic.
Barrett said, “I was proud to help advance the ALERT Act just this week, which took important steps to ensure that the tragic crash over the Potomac last year never happens again. But we cannot stop with just that one bill. … While some aspects of my bills were included in the ALERT Act, I strongly urge the committee to incorporate them into the NDAA to set standards across the department.” He emphasized ongoing efforts following a deadly midair collision over the Potomac River last January.
On restoring benefits for servicemembers, Barrett said, “During the COVID-19 mandate, many healthy, brave men and women who had made the commitment to continue serving our country were forced to choose between receiving the vaccine or being involuntarily discharged from service. These weren’t disciplinary separations; they were honorable servicemembers who were forced out before reaching ten years of service required to transfer their G.I. benefits to their children even if they had already initiated that process. That was wrong, we need to fix it, and we can do that.”
Barrett has introduced four pieces of aviation safety legislation so far; one has been signed into law while two others—the Military ADS-B Out Loophole Act and Safety in Shared Skies Act—are being considered for inclusion in this year’s NDAA. These measures would require military helicopter pilots not turn off location tracking systems during non-sensitive missions and mandate regular testing of such systems every ninety days.
Additionally, his Patriots Over Politics Act aims at allowing those who left military service between August 24, 2021, and January 10, 2023—either voluntarily or involuntarily—to transfer G.I. benefits if they completed at least six years of service.
Provisions similar to Barrett’s proposals have already been incorporated into another measure—the Airspace Location and Enhanced Risk Transparency (ALERT) Act—which recently passed in the House and will move forward in Senate consideration.
