National Defense Authorization Act Vetoed

Floor Speech

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Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Speaker, my heart breaks for our military men and women who last week watched their Commander in Chief as he vetoed the NDAA, the National Defense Authorization Act. This was a bill that would give them more pay and better benefits for the job that they are doing. He vetoed it, great flourish, called a ceremony.

He vetoed the bill because he wanted more money for his domestic agenda that includes more money for broken agencies like the EPA and the IRS. Imagine that.

In Congress, our first responsibility is to provide for the common defense, and the NDAA just does that.

This year's defense bill passed both the House and the Senate with an overwhelming bipartisan majority. It is the most reform-centered defense bill in decades.

It includes pay and benefits for our troops. Did you know 83 percent of our military personnel have retired with no retirement benefits? It changes that.

The President vetoed it. It would have given them 401(k)-style benefits. The President vetoed it. He should be ashamed of those actions. The men and women in uniform deserve better.

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