The House Armed Services Committee passed the fiscal year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), H.R. 7900, late last week.

Congressman Mike Rogers (R-AL03) is the ranking Republican on the Committee. Rogers released a statement applauding the committee's passage of the FY23 NDAA.

“I applaud the passage of the NDAA by the House Armed Services Committee,” Rogers said in a statement. “This is the first step in the process – the House and Congress have a number of issues to address as we move forward. The Committee was able to blunt the impacts of inflation on the military, accelerated the recapitalization of our nuclear triad, and invest in capabilities and platforms to deter and, if necessary, defeat China and other enemies. I will continue to push for these efforts and to remove extraneous provisions as we move the NDAA through the legislative process.”

The bill includes a top line of $37 billion more than what President Joe Biden initially requested. The increase, however, is still smaller than the $45 billion bump the Senate Armed Services Committee added last week.

Congressman Jerry Carl (R-AL01) released his own statement regarding the Committee’s passage of the NDAA with a commanding bipartisan majority of 57 to 1.

“I’m grateful the House Armed Services Committee has passed the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act, which includes two Expeditionary Medical Ships to be built by Austal USA in Mobile,” Carl said. “I’m proud to have secured authorization for these two vessels in the NDAA because they represent a massive investment in our local economy and our nation’s defense footprint. Austal USA’s continued contributions to our national defense interests help ensure our men and women in uniform have the best tools and equipment they need to protect our country from any and all threats.

“The Committee passed a good bill that includes a bipartisan boost to our overall defense spending, despite President Biden’s weak budget request that would have left us weak and vulnerable to our enemies. Now is not the time to fall behind Russia or China, so I’m proud to see the House Armed Services Committee pass an NDAA that fully meets our nation’s defense needs.”

The NDAA sets the nation’s defense priorities for each fiscal year.

To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandon.moseley@1819News.com.

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