Jan's Plans & Pans - July 18, 2023

Our greatest security threats have no military solutions, and it is time our budget reflects that. Last week, I voted against the final passage of the 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 with the addition of a series of extremist Republican amendments. These amendments would strip away service members’ access to reproductive rights, basic health care, as well as roll back funding for vital diversity, equity, and inclusion programs throughout the Defense Department. I refuse to support a bill that assaults our fundamental freedoms while also authorizing a staggering $886 billion in new spending for the Department of Defense. 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.

At a time when Americans are traveling more than ever, the airline industry and Congressional Republicans are once again prioritizing profits over people. Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Chris Deluzio (PA-17), and I introduced an amendment to the 2023 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act to protect consumers from deceptive airfare pricing. Currently, the FAA Reauthorization Act would undo a decade-old policy that mandates transparency when it comes to the full cost of an airline ticket, which would take us backwards and endanger American consumers. Our amendment would erase this proposed roll-back, protecting consumers from the misleading efforts of greedy companies.