HASC Member John Garamendi Votes in Favor of NDAA Conference Report Despite Reservations
Press Release
Today, Congressman John Garamendi (D-Fairfield), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, voted in favor of final passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2016. This annual bill provides the authority and direction for all United States military enterprises. It passed by a bipartisan 270-156 vote.
"I voted for this authorization because it supports the critical work that our servicemen and women do around the world every day to keep this country safe," Garamendi explained. "It also strengthens the intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance mission at Beale Air Force Base and the air mobility, aerial refueling, and aeromedical evacuation missions at Travis Air Force Base by funding critical upgrades and maintenance programs for all of the platforms positioned at these bases, including the U-2 Dragon Lady, RQ-4 Global Hawk, KC-10 Extender, C-5 Galaxy, and C-17 Globemaster."
Garamendi continued, "This is certainly not a perfect bill, but it is a significant improvement over the bill I voted against in the spring. It improves how we address sexual assault in the military and makes sure that the critical Maritime Security Program remains strong. I am especially pleased that many of the onerous restrictions that the House initially put on our country's nuclear nonproliferation programs, nuclear security programs, and efforts to implement nuclear treaties were removed during the conference process. "
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"The budget games which the Republican majority continues to play with the defense budget contribute to significant uncertainty to the mission, our service members, and their families. Fortunately, this bill includes a provision to fix the funding gimmicks in our national defense if Congress can come to a wider budget agreement and finally stop funding from crisis to crisis. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the House and Senate to properly fund all our nation's top priorities, from defense to infrastructure to education," Garamendi said.
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