Courtney Statement on House Passage of NDAA Conference Report
Statement
Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-2), Ranking Member of the House Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, released the following statement after voting in favor of the 2016 National Defense Authorization Act Conference Report, which passed the House by a vote of 270 to 156:
"The conference report on the NDAA is the product of months of hard, bipartisan work on the House Armed Services Committee. This is especially so on the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, where we have worked to produce a solid bill that invests in the future of our Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force and the important work they do below, on, and above the sea. Of particular importance to eastern Connecticut is the strong investment this bill makes in our undersea priorities, from continued two a year production of the Virginia class submarine to providing additional tools and flexibility for the Navy to build the Ohio Replacement while also preserving its other shipbuilding priorities.
"While I supported this bill today, I continue to have deep reservations about use of the Overseas Contingency Operations account to fund regular Defense Department operations. This mechanism reflects the continued failure of this Congress to take the necessary action to resolve the looming threat of sequestration and fully fund the government through the next year. Those issues, however, are much larger than the scope of the defense authorization bill or the jurisdiction of the House Armed Services Committee.
"I have repeatedly called on House Republican leaders to come to the table to address the threats of sequestration and budget control caps that will inflict damage on all segments of the national budget. It is long past time for House Republicans to negotiate a long-term budget agreement that will allow us to make necessary investments across the federal system, from education and health care to assistance for our most vulnerable citizens, to defense priorities that keep us safe and drive our economy in eastern Connecticut."
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