December 17, 2019

HOUSE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS NATIONAL SECURITY TASK FORCE PRAISES SENATE ADOPTION OF NDAA CONFERENCE REPORT, CALLS ON PRESIDENT TRUMP TO SWIFTLY SIGN INTO LAW

WASHINGTON – Following Senate passage of the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), House Democratic Caucus National Security Task Force Co-Chairs Reps. Jason Crow (D-CO), Andy Kim (D-NJ) and Xochitl Torres Small (D-NM) along with Co-Founder and Chair Emeritus Seth Moulton (D-MA) released the following statement praising the advancement of the measure and urging President Trump to sign it into law. All four Members serve on the House Armed Services Committee (HASC).

“This isn’t a perfect bill, but it is the most progressive NDAA Congress has seen in a generation and advances many of Colorado’s key priorities,” said National Security Task Force Co-Chair Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO). “With the inclusion of my Military Installation Resilience Assuredness (MIRA) Act, we are on the cusp of signing into law bold action to address climate change at the Department of Defense. Climate change is a threat to our national security and I’m thrilled to have found common ground with my colleagues to address this urgent issue.”

“For people in Burlington and Ocean Counties, the defense budget isn’t just something that happens in Washington, it’s something that impacts their daily lives,” said Task Force Co-Chair Rep. Andy Kim (D-NJ). “Our service members at the Joint Base will see a pay raise and their spouses will see more economic opportunities. Our surrounding communities will see more jobs and safer water. I’m proud to have worked with colleagues on both sides of the aisle and look forward to seeing this signed swiftly into law.”

“Our men and women in uniform make great sacrifices on behalf of our country every day and I am proud to vote for a well-deserved pay raise,” said Task Force Co-Chair Rep. Xochitl Torres Small (D-NM). “I’m committed to making sure we address the needs of all our service members, whether that’s through ending the unjust ‘widow’s tax’ or securing paid parental leave. This legislation also ensures we support communities surrounding military bases by protecting water resources for our farmers and re-authorizing the Mentor Protégé program to support our small businesses and local economy.”

“More than 200,000 people in New England work on defense projects funded by Congress, and in particular in developing the next-generation technologies to keep our troops safe overseas and our families safe at home,” said Task Force Founder and Chair Emeritus Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA). “In order to compete and win against rising powers like Russia and China, Congress needs to invest in cutting-edge technologies that strengthen our national and economic security. That means hard choices and smart investments when it comes to defense spending.”