Schakowsky Statement on Voting Against the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), a Chief Deputy Whip and Ranking Member of the Innovation, Data, and Commerce Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, released the following statement after voting against H.R. 2670, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024:

“Today, I voted against final passage of the extremist Republicans’ right-wing fever dream, the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This bill that originally came out of committee with pay raises for our service members and civilian federal employees, turned into a MAGA manifesto that strips away service members’ reproductive rights, access to basic health care, and rolls back funding for diversity, equity and inclusion programs operated throughout the Defense Department. This will harm our national security and military readiness. In no way could I vote for a bill that assaults our fundamental freedoms and attacks countless Americans, while also authorizing a staggering $886 billion in new spending for the Department of Defense.

“In addition, this dangerous bill failed to include key provisions repealing the 2002 Iraq Authorization for Use of Military Force, it increased funding for nuclear weapons that the Biden administration has explicitly rejected, and it failed to prohibit further US involvement in the Saudi-led coalition’s war on Yemen.

“Our greatest security threats have no military solutions, and it is time our budget reflects that. Instead of stripping Americans of their autonomy and freedom and giving the Pentagon nearly a trillion dollars, we should make the investments in health care, education, housing, diplomacy, public transit, and the environment that Americans deserve. That is why I ultimately could not support the FY 2024 NDAA’s passage.”

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