The 2024 National Defense Authorization Act – or NDAA – was passed by the US House of Representatives last week – and a provision authored by Congressman Jay Obernolte protects the annual King of the Hammers event which takes place on shared-use land in Johnson Valley, which can connect to the Combat Center’s borders.
In 2022 alone, 80,000 people attended the multi-day off-road competition The Johnson Valley Shared Use Area currently generates more than $71 million annually for the local economy according to the Bureau of Land Management.
According to a press release by Obernolte’s office – the NDAA also secures important wins for hi-desert military bases and their surrounding communities – as it increases support services on remote or isolated bases – such as the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms.
The bill provides a 5.2% pay increase for service members, the largest increase in more than 20 years, and authorizes over $240 million to reduce servicemember out-of-pocket housing expenses and counteract the rising cost of rent. It also expands reimbursements available to military spouses for relicensing or business costs when servicemembers transfer locations and significantly reduces DOD childcare fees for military families.
You can see the full release of the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act can be viewed here (PDF).
