House Passes the National Defense Authorization Act

WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, a Senior Chief Deputy Whip, released the following statement upon passage of the National Defense Authorization Act:

“I have voted for the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) twice in my career. The first time was when ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ was repealed, and the second time was today. Here is why.

“This year’s NDAA was drafted by our Democratic Majority and contains numerous provisions Democrats have been working to achieve for over a decade. First, this bill, while still overly expensive, cuts $17 billion dollars from the President’s defense budget for the first time in history. The bill also:

· Includes a blanket prohibition on funding for the President’s wall on the southern border

· Prohibits Department of Defense (DOD) funds from aiding the President’s child separation policy

· Provides Paid Family and Medical Leave (FMLA) for all government employees

· Denies the President the unilateral authority to go to war in Iran

· Repeals the 2001 Authorization of Use of Military Force (AUMF) war authority

· Increases soldier pay

· Aids military families by providing increased resources for housing, childcare, and education

· Requires DOD to help combat climate change

· Stops DOD programs that significantly pollute the environment and provides a significant amount of funding for environmental cleanup

· Accelerates the closure of the prison at Guantanamo Bay Cuba

· Increases and aids diversity in the military

· Reduces the size of our nuclear weapons program, and eliminates new low-yield nuclear weapons

· Increases family planning services for military women and provides resources to combat sexual assault

· Increases protections or unionized civilian defense employees

· Requires and audit and increased fiscal responsibility for the Department overall

· Prevents military assistance to groups or forces that are known to commit human rights violations

· Helps hold Russia accountable for its interference in U.S. elections

· Reverses the President’s ban on transgender individuals serving in the armed forces

And much more.

“The bill also contains an amendment I drafted which will forces the Inspector General of the Defense Department to inform Congress about the details regarding private military security contractors used by the military around the world.

“This NDAA bill secures a strong national defense built on key Democratic priorities while advancing American values, maintaining a tough stance on Russia and continuing collaboration with allies. The 2020 NDAA also eliminates wasteful spending, promotes a more inclusive military by reinforcing the values of diversity and solidifies Congress’s oversight role over defense programs. I am pleased to have lent my vote to its passage.”

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