Congresswoman McCollum Votes Against National Defense Authorization Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Betty McCollum, the Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, issued the following statement on Wednesday evening upon voting against the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA):

“Our service members and their families deserve a bipartisan NDAA that respects everyone’s service to our nation and does not contain right-wing culture war policy provisions. Unfortunately, that is not the type of NDAA House Republicans have advanced. In fact, Republicans are so desperate to pass the SAVE America Act — their bill that would make it more difficult for Americans to vote — that they attached it to this bill. This Republican NDAA also does nothing to rein in President Trump’s ongoing misuse of the military — chief among them, the president’s war of choice with Iran, which has never been authorized by Congress. I am also deeply concerned that this bill authorizes over a trillion dollars in funding for the Pentagon at a time when Republicans in Congress continue to make deep cuts to healthcare, education, nutrition assistance, and other programs that Americans depend on.” 

The bill passed by a vote of 216-212. Click here to watch Congresswoman McCollum’s remarks in opposition to an amendment to the NDAA concerning the reauthorization of the Defense Production Act.