Boebert Pueblo Jobs Act to be Signed Into Law

This week, the House and Senate passed the final version of the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes the Pueblo Jobs Act introduced by Congresswoman Lauren Boebert. The bill will create more than 1,000 jobs in Pueblo and foster economic prosperity for southern Colorado.

Congresswoman Lauren Boebert (CO-03) said, "I’m thrilled that my first bill that will be signed into law is the Pueblo Jobs Act.  This legislation will create more than 1,000 jobs in Pueblo and Colorado's Third District. My bill ensures that multi-billion-dollar infrastructure at the Pueblo Chemical Depot can be utilized by the community instead of just being torn down and bulldozed. This bipartisan and bicameral effort was developed from the ground up, and I’d like to thank all the stakeholders who helped make this happen, especially Russell DeSalvo of PuebloPlex."

Background:

This week, the House and Senate debated and passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024. Included in the final passage of this bill is Congresswoman Lauren Boebert’s Pueblo Jobs Act as well as the largest military pay raise in 20 years. This version of the NDAA has strong bipartisan support and is expected to be signed into law soon.

Congresswoman Boebert's Pueblo Jobs Act strengthens Pueblo's economy by creating a minimum of 1,000 jobs following the closure of the Pueblo Chemical Depot. This legislation ensures that the federal government adheres to the rigorous Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process under the supervision of the Secretary of the Army. This strategic move provides certainty for Pueblo's economic landscape and fosters the creation of future employment opportunities.

Back in 1988, the Base Closure Commission recommended the realignment of the Pueblo Chemical Depot, exempting 7,000 acres, including the Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (PCAPP) and additional facilities, from standard BRAC requirements. Congresswoman Boebert's Pueblo Jobs Act closes this loophole, safeguarding the multi-billion-dollar infrastructure investment represented by PCAPP and the additional facilities on the protected 7,000 acres. The bill ensures that this valuable infrastructure will actively contribute to Pueblo's prosperity, rather than facing demolition. With the passage of Congresswoman Boebert's bill, PuebloPlex is already working with industries to harness this remarkable facility for the creation of high-paying jobs in Pueblo.

The Pueblo Jobs Act, championed by Congresswoman Boebert, mandates the adherence to the standard BRAC process by the Army, yielding several benefits for the Pueblo community. First, it enables PuebloPlex to access federal grant funding from the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation (OLDCC) for planning and mitigating the economic impacts of the closure. Second, it allows to Pueblo to receive substantial environmental indemnifications from the Army, aiding in the redevelopment and reuse of the property. Third, it allows for conveyance of the property at less-than-fair market value for economic development purposes. Collectively, these resources are pivotal in sustaining Pueblo as the base undergoes closure, welcoming new businesses to the area.

Some of the economic development and job opportunities my Pueblo Jobs Act support include PuebloPlex, the Pueblo Memorial Airport Industrial Park, the federal Transportation Technology Center, and the implementation of a regional workforce development project led by local colleges including Pueblo Community College and Colorado State University-Pueblo.

Throughout the legislative process, Congresswoman Boebert collaborated closely with PuebloPlex, Senators Hickenlooper and Bennet, Congressman Doug Lamborn, and the House Armed Services Committee.

The full text of the Pueblo Jobs Act is available here.

Additional NDAA Information Courtesy of the House Armed Services Committee:

Every year, Congress has to pass a new National Defense Authorization Act. It’s one of the few bills that must be signed into law annually. This year’s NDAA focuses on strengthening the military due to the rising threats of Iran, North Korea, Russia and China. There is also a strong emphasis on improving benefits for all servicemembers as well as increasing their pay to historic levels. In total, this year’s NDAA authorizes $886.3B in national defense funding.

This bill supports servicemembers and their families by:

• Increasing pay by 5.2%, the largest increase in 20 years
• Allocating $280 million for new schools for military children
• Requires the DoD to correct personnel files of servicemembers discharged for not taking the COVID-19 vaccine so that they receive full benefits in retirement

This bill eliminates wokeness in the military by:

• Banning Critical Race Theory from being taught in our military
• Implementing a pay cap on the Pentagon’s DEI programs
• Including a Parents’ Bill of Rights in DoD schools
• Cutting climate change programs

The United States is facing unprecedented threats from countries on the other side of the world, as well as our own borders. In order to best prepare for these challenges and protect our borders, this bill:

• Fully modernizes our nuclear triad
• Prohibits the sourcing of operational energy from Russia or China, or entities owned by Russia or China
• Prevents the retirement of capabilities with remaining service life, including 4 battleships and additional F-22, KC-135, E-3, and C-130 aircraft
• Includes increased funding for military construction and logistics capabilities
• Requires a reassessment of posture by the Missile Defense Agency in light of North Korea’s ICBM developments
• Requires DoD use or transfer border wall materials to border states
• Calls for an interagency strategy to target, disrupt, and degrade threats posed by fentanyl trafficking to national security
• Fully funds the deployment of National Guardsmen in support of Border Patrol activities

To read the full NDAA for Fiscal Year 2024, click here.