NDAA Passes with Key Takano Provision to Prevent the Consolidation of Defense Media Activity and Protect 300 Jobs at March Air Reserve Base
Washington, DC – Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) secured language in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for FY2021, which passed the House today, to prevent the Department of Defense’s (DOD) consolidation of Defense Media Activity (DMA) and protect roughly 300 jobs at March Air Reserve Base (MARB) in Moreno Valley.
DOD has been considering the relocation and consolidation of DMA functions stationed at MARB. The potential consolidation threatens to move some or all DMA functions outside of California’s 41st District. The language included in NDAA prohibits DMA from consolidating or transitioning to any alternative content delivery methods until the Secretary of Defense submits to Congress its justification for and risk mitigation efforts regarding safety risks posed to servicemembers and their families; vulnerabilities of new content delivery methods; technological limitations; and financial liabilities or costs to servicemembers. The language also stipulates that no consolidation or transition may occur before 180 days after this report is submitted to Congress.
“I remain committed to fighting back against the ongoing efforts by the Department of Defense to consolidate Defense Media Activity at March Air Reserve Base,” said Rep. Mark Takano. “This not only threatens our strategic military advantage, but it threatens the livelihoods of roughly 300 of my constituents. By securing this provision in the NDAA, we can help ensure that our national security and these critical jobs at March remain intact.”
Last year, Rep. Takano included a provision in the NDAA for FY2020 to limit and prevent the Secretary of Defense from taking any potential action to consolidate DMA until a report was submitted to Congress and 60 days had passed following submission to Congress. In July, his bipartisan amendment was successfully adopted into the NDAA for FY2021 requiring DOD to certify to Congress that any consolidation would not compromise the safety of service members or the security of content delivery, and would not impede access to content due to technical limitations.
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