Congressman Barry Moore (R-AL02) voted against the House’s version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2023.
The NDAA sets policy for the nation’s defense and armed services. Moore said that this year’s bill would harm the national defense by allowing the Biden Administration’s unconstitutional COVID-19 vaccine mandate to move forward, leading to the discharge of over 60,000 soldiers, despite every branch of the U.S. military struggling to meet recruitment goals. He also said the bill allows the teaching that the nation’s enemies are not abroad but are the systemic evils within its own citizens and military.
“I take no joy in voting against legislation authorizing our military programs, but I cannot, in good conscience, vote for a bill that cripples our military readiness and deliberately rejects actions to halt the increasingly unconcealed subjection of our military men and women to woke social experiments, reeducation, and an experimental vaccine,” said Moore. “Our military’s role is to protect our Constitutional rights and the American way of life from our enemies at home and abroad, and any bill that undermines those foundational pillars not only harms our national defense but dilutes what makes our nation so worthy of defending."
Over 60,000 U.S. soldiers and national guard members will lose pay and benefits unless they are fully vaccinated by Aug. 1.
"No amount of money authorized to spend on bases or weapons programs could compensate for such dangerous policy missteps that destabilize our nation," said Moore. "I promised the people of my district I would not vote to fund vaccine mandates, and it is disappointing this bill not only funds the vaccine mandate but further fails our service members by leaving out provisions to restore the full rank and pay of those discharged for refusing the vaccine.”
The NDAA had broad bipartisan support in the House. Ranking Republican on the Committee Mike Rogers (R-AL03) voted for the legislation.
“I am glad to see the FY23 NDAA pass the House with overwhelming bipartisan support,” Rogers said. “However, our work is not done – we will continue to improve upon this bill in conference to ensure that this legislation gives our warfighters what they need."
Last year, Moore voted against the first FY2022 NDAA version brought to a vote in the House by Speaker Nancy Pelosi. He said then he was in opposition to included provisions requiring women to register with the Selective Service, instituting red flag measures for servicemembers, promoting Critical Race Theory education to servicemembers and requiring military members, even those with natural immunity, who refuse a COVID-19 vaccination to be discharged dishonorably. Those provisions were removed when the bill reached the U.S. Senate. Moore supported the final version of the 2022 NDAA which was passed into law after those provisions were removed.
Moore is in his first term representing Alabama’s Second Congressional District.
To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandon.moseley@1819News.com.
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