On Wednesday, the U.S. Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) 87-13 to fund the military for fiscal year 2024.
Immediately the next day, the U.S. House passed it 310-118.
U.S. Sens. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) and Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) voted to support the NDAA's passage.
Britt said in a statement, "Today, I voted to support the Fiscal Year 2024 NDAA, which contains major wins for Alabama, for our national defense, and for conservatives. This legislation includes a 5.2 percent pay raise for our troops, forces the Biden Administration to resume construction of the wall at our southern border, and ensures that all future military promotions are solely based on an individual's performance and merit."
Tuberville said, "I voted for this year's defense bill for two reasons: because it's good for Alabama and it's good for our national security. This bill could have been a lot stronger, but Chuck Schumer rigged the negotiation process to prevent conservatives from getting key wins on issues like taxpayer-funded abortion and DEI. We didn't get everything we wanted this time, but we got a lot. And my fellow conservatives in Alabama and across America can be sure that I'm determined to get the rest of it in next year's bill."
The former Auburn football coach discussed the NDAA in detail during Thursday's broadcast of FM Talk 106.5.
Following passage in the House, U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Saks), chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said, "I am proud to announce the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2024."
"Our country faces more national security threats than ever, and it has never been more important to fund our defense," he added. "Yet, the Biden Administration continues to attempt to use the military as a conduit for leftist political initiatives. This bill refocuses our military on lethality, establishes rigorous oversight on Biden's DOD, and cements Alabama's place as a leader in national security."
Rogers also praised U.S. Rep Dale Strong (R-Huntsville), saying, "Dale and I have fought hard to hold the Biden Administration accountable and resist their attempts to inject politics into the Space command basing decision. I thank Dale for his tireless leadership."
"This year's NDAA ensures that U.S. military readiness remains at the highest level, combats aggression by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), guts the Biden Administration's woke policies & DEI bureaucracy, and increases oversight of U.S. taxpayer dollars to minimize waste," Strong stated.
The NDAA includes Strong's FINISH IT Act. This provision requires the Department of Defense to provide unused border wall materials currently rusting in storage to border states for use.
U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Hoover) said, "At a time when China and our foreign adversaries are growing stronger, we must ensure that our military is prepared. We should be equipping our military with the resources needed to defend our freedoms."
"It also supports Israel and our allies across the globe, provides pathways back for service members discharged for refusing to take the COVID-19 vaccine, and bans the Biden administration's plans to radicalize our military with critical race theory (CRT) indoctrination," he added.
U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville) was frustrated by the Senate Democrats for removing the House-passed provision overturning abortion reimbursement for the military.
However, in a statement, he said, "[W]e were able to take an axe to the leftist, woke agenda that Democrats have been forcing on our military. We have put a hiring freeze for social justice warriors in the DoD, prohibited the use of federal funds to promote critical race theory, and undone the injustice done to our service members who were wrongfully punished for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine."
U.S. Rep Jerry Carl (R-Mobile) praised the passage in a tweet. He pointed out the military pay increase, banning CRT in the military, $316.6 million in constructing funds for Alabama military bases, including $41 million to Fort Novosel (formerly Fort Rucker) and two new naval ships to be built in Mobile by Austal.
U.S. Rep Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) was the sole vote in Alabama's delegation against the NDAA. According to Moore's staff, his biggest issues were due to the Senate Democrats' removal of the military abortion reimbursement, reauthorizations for the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and funding for training in Ukraine.
"Earlier this year, I proudly supported the House version of this legislation, which was truly focused on military readiness and service member needs," Moore said. "I am disappointed that divisive policies which hold service members and taxpayers hostage to the Democrats' radical agenda have been included in this bill, and I cannot support it."
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email Bradley.Cox@1819news.com.
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