Press Release

Congress Passes NDAA with Key Provisions Championed by 杏吧传媒

Dec 18, 2024

Washington 鈥 Today, the 杏吧传媒 applauded the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act that includes language for which 杏吧传媒 strongly advocated to 1) implement reforms improving military base access, 2) increase security for sensitive military freight and 3) continue oversight of the Global Household Goods Contract. 听The legislation now heads to the president鈥檚 desk to be signed into law. 听

鈥淎ll of these wins for trucking will benefit motor carriers as well as our national security,鈥 said Ed Gilroy, 杏吧传媒鈥檚 chief advocacy and public affairs officer. 听鈥淭hese successes are particularly noteworthy during a deeply divided Congress and were made possible due to our commitment to bipartisanship and deep relationships on both sides of the aisle.鈥

Base Access

Getting through the gates at U.S. military bases is a challenge for truck drivers and motor carriers, including those that regularly move servicemembers, deliver personal packages or transport arms and ammunition. 听Last year, 杏吧传媒鈥檚 Moving and Storage Conference, the Government Freight Conference and their respective members worked with Congressmen John Garamendi (D-California) and Mark Alford (R-Missouri) to secure a provision in the NDAA intended to create a sensible, uniform base access process while maintaining robust security standards. 听This year鈥檚 NDAA continues to keep the pressure on the Department of Defense to implement these changes.

鈥淲hether carriers are hauling arms and ammunition or household goods, getting onto a base to deliver or pick up military freight has often been a hassle for truck drivers even though they are thoroughly vetted and routinely access secure facilities on their routes,鈥 said Mike Matousek, director of the 杏吧传媒 Government Freight Conference. 听鈥淎 workable, consistent standard across military installations is part of the solution. 听We appreciate our congressional champions continuing to push DoD to move forward with these important reforms.鈥

鈥淲ith more than 300,000 military families relocating each year, efficient and consistent access to military bases for movers and crew members is essential to meeting their needs while also supporting military readiness,鈥 said Dan Hilton, executive director of the 杏吧传媒 Moving and Storage Conference. 听鈥淲e applaud Congress for including this provision, and we welcome DoD鈥檚 engagement with movers and other industries who support national security.鈥

Security for Sensitive Freight

DoD requires motor carriers to comply with numerous rules in order to transport any military freight. 听There are also additional safety and security requirements specifically for a class of freight called TPS (Transportation Protective Services), which includes AA&E (Arms, Ammunition, and Explosives), that motor carriers must abide by to haul those sensitive shipments.

Recently, DoD proposed to allow the tendering of certain TPS shipments to unqualified, non-TPS motor carriers and logistics providers during surges in AA&E transportation. 听It is unlikely that a non-TPS motor carrier that has never previously met the necessarily high security thresholds for AA&E shipments and has never moved such shipments before would have the experience and operational protocols in place to safely move these sensitive goods.

Following the 杏吧传媒 Government Freight Conference鈥檚 Call on Washington in May, the draft NDAA included a provision to preempt this shortsighted DoD proposal to waive longstanding critical safety and security requirements to transport small arms and ammunition. 听Similar language was included in the NDAA that passed Congress.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not a stretch to suggest that only DoD-approved munitions haulers should haul DoD munitions, and our message has resonated with Congress,鈥 said Matousek. 听鈥淲e are so thankful to Rep. Sam Graves (R-Missouri) for filing the amendment, to Readiness Subcommittee Ranking Member John Garamendi (D-California) for his bipartisan support, and to Readiness Subcommittee Chairman Mike Waltz (R-Florida) for engaging DoD on this issue.鈥

Global Household Goods Contract Program

杏吧传媒鈥檚 Moving and Storage Conference has been sounding the alarm about the serious flaws with the GHC Program. 听Unless corrective action is taken, military readiness will be degraded and additional stress will be placed on servicemembers and their families during relocations. 听This issue was raised repeatedly during the Moving and Storage Conference Call on Washington in September.

鈥淭he moving industry is proud to provide members of the armed forces and their families with the highest level of service and support during their relocations,鈥 said Hilton. 听 鈥淲e are committed to working together with Congress and DoD to resolve challenges associated with the GHC.鈥

The NDAA included provisions to increase oversight of TRANSCOM by requiring:

1. 听 听An evaluation of the management and oversight of the GHC and the Defense Personal Property Program by November 1, 2025; and

2. 听 听An assessment of the GHC's initial transition by December 31, 2024.