Schakowsky Votes Against National Defense Authorization Act
WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, a Senior Chief Deputy Whip, released the following statement after voting against the Conference Report on H.R. 6395, the William M. Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021:
"I voted against final passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) today. While I support several important components of this legislation, I could not in good conscience vote for the bill in its entirety. The FY 21 NDAA authorizes $732 billion in new Pentagon spending. This is ten times larger than the defense budgets of the next 10 countries combined and comprises more than 50 cents out of every dollar in the federal discretionary budget. Further, it is over 91 times the budget of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). This year, in the midst of a pandemic, Congress needs to reevaluate its priorities as millions of people across the country are falling ill, out of work, and otherwise suffering because of the novel coronavirus. This NDAA does not reflect the best interest of our nation at this moment in time.
"The FY 21 NDAA fully funds Trump's dangerous and unsustainable nuclear weapons program at $44.5 billion. 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 does not include key provisions to prevent the President from going to war with Iran absent Congressional approval. And it does not take meaningful steps to closing the Guantanamo Bay Detention Center. Finally, it stripped away critical environmental provisions from the House bill, including Representative Diana DeGette's Protecting America's Wilderness Act.
"Although I am opposed to this bill, I was pleased to see several bright spots in the legislation, including provisions that ensure paid parental leave to all federal employees, provide long-overdue benefits to Vietnam-era veterans exposed to Agent Orange, provide a much needed pay raise to our troops, and include the Elijah Cummings Federal Anti-Discrimination Act.
"Unfortunately, despite these important provisions, this legislation does more harm than good, which is why I could not support its passage."
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