Wittman Backs House Passage of Defense Authorization

Statement

Today, Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-01), chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces, backed House passage of H.R. 5515, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for the Fiscal Year 2019 (FY19 NDAA).

The bill is the main mechanism through which Congress "provides for the common defense" of our nation. This bill equips, supplies, and trains our troops; cares for them and their families; and sets national security policy in a dangerous world. The authorization calls for base budget requirements of $617 billion, increases the size of Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Guard, and Naval and Air Reserve to be proportionate with the threats we face, and fully funds a 2.6% pay raise for our troops. For 57 years, this piece of bipartisan legislation has been signed into law as it is what is necessary to support our troops and set the defense policy for our nation.

"It is painfully obvious that our nation's military is at a crossroads. We can choose to retreat from the world and allow other nations to dictate the circumstances of our national security, or we can choose to lead from the front and shape the affairs of our defense strategy. I choose the latter. I choose a military that can provide for our domestic security and is capable of protecting our national interests abroad," Rep. Wittman said. "The FY19 NDAA shows to our Armed Forces and to the world that Congress supports our men and women in uniform. This defense authorization provides the right capabilities to support our warfighters, including the 13 ships I have been fighting for that would support the Navy and reach our national policy of 355 ships. I believe this NDAA takes important steps towards restoring our military readiness and giving our Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force the tools and resources they need to deter our adversaries, support our allies, and respond to threats around the globe."

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