OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Wicker: Defense Bill Should Not Be Used As Leverage for More Domestic Spending

Statement

Date: Oct. 22, 2015
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Defense Government Budget and Spending

U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today issued the following statement regarding President Obama's veto of the "National Defense Authorization Act" (NDAA):

"Providing for the national defense is solely a federal responsibility. NDAA authorizes $612 billion in defense spending -- the very amount that President Obama requested in his budget proposal. As commander in chief, he should have signed the measure into law instead of using it as leverage in a fight over domestic spending. His misguided veto puts a hold on important pay raises for our troops, cuts to wasteful spending, and improvements to quality-of-life programs for our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines. It also stalls a major reform that would allow our younger troops to contribute to their retirement without having to serve a full 20 years. I am hopeful that Congress will soon act in a bipartisan way to override the President's veto."

The NDAA conference report, H.R. 1735, passed the Senate by a veto-proof majority vote of 70-27. The House passed the measure by a vote of 270-156.


Source
arrow_upward