WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Vern Buchanan announced that two of his proposals included in the final version of the FY24 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), have been signed into law. This marks Buchanan’s 31st and 32nd legislative initiatives signed into law since he first came to Congress in 2007.
Buchanan has had four initiatives signed by President Bush, six by President Obama and 13 by President Trump. He has also seen nine legislative proposals signed into law by President Biden so far.
“These two proposals are going to address the well-being and safety of our active-duty service members and their families,” said Congressman Buchanan. “I’m extremely pleased to see these provisions signed into law and am committed to securing more wins for our country and our community in Southwest Florida.”
The two Buchanan provisions include:
- An amendment to examine the benefits and feasibility of utilizing black box data recorders in tactical military vehicles to prevent future accidents.
- The Rachael Booth Act (H.R. 975), which aims to fix a gap in current law that prevents some individuals who suffer domestic abuse at the hands of a service member from receiving much-needed financial assistance.
Buchanan’s first provision will evaluate if equipping tactical vehicles with black box data recorders could prevent future military training accidents, previously introduced as the DRIVE SAFE Act (H.R. 4399). Buchanan has been a leading advocate in Congress for reforming current military training procedures and improving emergency response capabilities in Congress after his constituent, Army Specialist Panipinto, died when the M2A3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle he was driving overturned during a road test in 2019 in South Korea.
Numerous safety and training failures contributed to SPC Panipinto’s death, including malfunctions of the vehicle’s communication systems, defective or broken equipment, a lack of medical services on base and significant delays in medical response to the scene of the accident.
"There just isn't an end to this sadness. Our hearts are forever broken. The only thing we can do now is try to prevent this from happening again,” said Kimberly Weaver, mother of Army Specialist Panipinto. “Congressman Buchanan heard us. He has been relentless in the fight to demand accountability and secure a safer future for our service members. Rollovers account for 63% of military vehicle deaths. Data retrieving devices on tactical vehicles will help to collect accident data and diagnose mechanical failures before they become fatalities or blamed upon the victim who no longer has a voice. We are forever grateful to Congressman Buchanan for his devotion to this cause and the procurement of a safer future for our military sons and daughters."
Buchanan’s second provision, the Rachael Booth Act, was named after his constituent from Lithia, FL. She found herself unable to access the financial assistance she should have been eligible for when her husband was convicted of domestic abuse in a civilian court and then discharged from the military on an unrelated offense.
This new law will help dependents of service members more easily access Transitional Compensation to help them transition to financial independence after the service member has been discharged from the military for a domestic abuse offense.
“The passing of this Act is an emotional triumph for me,” said Rachael Booth. “Knowing victims will have swift access to the help they need, empowering them with the assistance they need to reclaim their lives is a beacon of hope.”
Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), who introduced companion legislation in the Senate, said, “The Rachael Booth Act is a bipartisan, common sense solution to an urgent problem. This law will fix the error that prevented victims whose cases are handled by civilian courts from being eligible for transitional compensation. I am proud to have named this law after a courageous Floridian who shed light on the current system.”
Buchanan had a series of sweeping military training reforms included in the FY22 NDAA that required the Pentagon to implement more realistic training practices, develop stricter enforcement standards and ensure better oversight to prevent future military training accidents and deaths.
In 2020, Buchanan also offered an amendment to the FY21 NDAA that was successfully signed into law. His amendment required the DoD to examine emergency response capabilities and services currently available at U.S. bases around the world, and to report to Congress on the potential benefits and feasibility of requiring bases to have properly functioning MedEvac helicopters and fully stocked military ambulances.
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