Conference Report on H.R. National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019

Floor Speech

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Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my support for the conference report for the National Defense Authorization Act of 2019.

This bipartisan piece of legislation is crucial for our Nation's armed services, and it is an honor and privilege to be selected again to serve as a conferee.

We have over 15 major military installations in Texas, and NDAA funds key defense and scientific research industries throughout the State, and especially for the constituents that I serve in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. This bill ensures our military is supported with the research they need to complete their missions and face the national security challenges at home and abroad.

This is a crucial time for Democrats and Republicans to find ways to work together for solutions that will ensure the safety of the United States and our allies--now, really, more so today than ever before.

This bill will make great strides in achieving that mission. This bill provides the highest pay increase for our troops in a decade, funds innovation in emerging technologies that will increase aviation readiness, and requires the DOD establish a pilot program to maximize opioid safety in the military health system by monitoring controlled substances for servicemembers.

It is also a great point of pride in Texas that we supply some of the best military and defense readiness equipment for our armed services. Many of the Nation's F-35 Joint Strike Fighters are built in Fort Worth, and Lockheed Martin is one of the metroplex's largest employers. I will continue to fight tirelessly for additional funding for F-35s to ensure that our Armed Forces have the most advanced jet fighters in the world.

Democrats have also succeeded in taking out funding for the wall, which I think was very important in this bill. I was disappointed about taxpayer dollars being spent to fund a very extravagant military parade that I don't think that we need. I think it shows authoritarianism. However, this bill funding makes great progress in improving our military readiness and continues to demonstrate America's resilience and strength.

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