Schakowsky Statement on Voting Against H.R. 7900, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023
WASHINGTON - Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, a Senior Chief Deputy Whip and Chair of the Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee of the Energy and Commerce Committee, released the following statement after voting against H.R. 7900, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023.
"Last night, I voted against House passage of H.R. 7900, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). While I supported several important components of this legislation, I could not in good conscience vote for the bill in its entirety. The FY 2023 NDAA authorizes a historically high $850 billion in new defense spending – an increase of over $70 billion from last year's authorization and $36.9 billion above what the Administration requested. This is far more than the defense budgets of China, India, Russia, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Germany, France, Japan, and South Korea combined.
"The FY 23 NDAA fails to suspend unnecessary and dangerous nuclear programs. It also does not curb the 1033 program, which provides military equipment to domestic law enforcement agencies at free or discounted rates, despite being a priority in the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. It also fails to include critical provisions that reassert Congress's constitutional authorities over war and peace. Finally, it does not include Representatives Barbara Lee and Mark Pocan's bipartisan amendment that would save $100 billion – more than the total budgets of the Centers for Disease Control, the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Parks Service, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development combined. This would have enabled Congress to invest more in basic human needs, instead of increased Pentagon spending that it did not request.
"Although I opposed this bill, I was pleased to see a few bright spots in the legislation. It included a 4.6% pay raise for service members and civilians, in addition to providing inflation bonuses for service members and civilians earning less than $45,000/year. It also codifies a $15 minimum wage for workers on federal service and construction contracts, and includes my amendment, which establishes a preference for contractors who respect workers. I am also supportive of the historic $111 million that will be invested in research activities at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Finally, this NDAA includes $1 billion for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, establishes a much-needed DOD Center for Excellence in Civilian Harm Mitigation, eliminates copays for contraception, and increases access to infertility services for servicemembers.
"Despite these important provisions, this legislation does not reflect the best interest of our nation at this moment in time – a time where we continue battling a relentless pandemic, a plague of gun violence, an affordable housing shortage, and a climate crisis. It is clearer than ever that our greatest security threats have no military solutions. It is time for a change, and yesterday's NDAA is misaligned with our nation's true security needs. That is why I could not support its passage."
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