Kamlager-Dove Statement on House Passage of the National Defense Authorization Act
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - July 14, 2023
Media Contact: Maya Valentine | maya.valentine@mail.house.gov
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37) issued the following statement after the final passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024:
“Every year for the past 60 years, Congress has come together in a bipartisan fashion to pass the National Defense Authorization Act. This is one of the most important measures Congress can consider and has been instrumental to supporting our men and women in uniform while protecting our national security interests. Unfortunately, Republicans have chosen to politicize the needs of our service members and hijack a political tradition in order to push a dangerous Freedom Caucus agenda.
“It was shameful for Freedom Caucus Members to treat our military servicemen and women like political piñatas by introducing egregious and nonrelevant poison pill amendments that attack Diversity and Inclusion initiatives, restrict access for abortion for service members, prevent aid from reaching Ukraine as Ukrainians face Russian aggression, and harm small businesses and American innovation. I had a front row seat to this mania when I was managing the House Floor, where a Republican went as far as calling Black service members ‘colored’ and spoke about provisions that would harm our most vulnerable. This process has been a tragedy and another sad example of Republican dysfunction. We cannot provide for our national defense by jeopardizing our values and our strengths in the process.
“I submitted five amendments, three of which had Republican cosponsors, to address gaps in U.S. foreign policy toward Africa and Latin America. There were so many substantive amendments that were submitted and that should have been considered. Unfortunately, House Republicans’ NDAA legislation passed today has no substance. That is why I joined Democrats in voting against their bill. Our country deserves better, our military deserves better, and the American people deserve better.”
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