National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020

Floor Speech

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Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Chairman, I thank the ranking member for yielding.

Mr. Chair, I have supported every National Defense Authorization Act since I arrived in Congress 11 years ago.

Unfortunately, in its current form, I rise in opposition to H.R. 2500, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020.

This bill does a number of good things. Notably, it includes an authorization of 11 ships, it reaffirms congressional support for midlife refueling of the USS John C. Stennis, it robustly supports the merchant marine with the reauthorization of the Maritime Security Program, and it provides for a new tanker security program that our services need.

In summary, the bill did a good job with the resources that were provided.

However, due to the decrement of $15 billion from the President's budget request, the bill imposed the limitations on low-yield nuclear weapons, restrictions on the President's request to secure the border, and an entirely avoidable failure to adequately restrict the 9/11 detainees. All of these issues led me to oppose final passage of the NDAA in committee.

In the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, the reduction of $15 billion will lead to delay in the construction of the next Ford- class aircraft carrier by 1 year, eliminate a replenishment ship, reduce the Navy's innovation by limiting development of unmanned surface vessels, and restrict critical development of anti-mine warfare programs.

Additionally, this top-line reduction limited our subcommittee's flexibility to address critical shortfalls in amphibious ships and weapons. Simply put, we can do better.

While I am concerned about the entirety of this current bill, I am not concerned about the bipartisan nature of our subcommittee. I want to specifically thank Chairman Courtney and his team for their extraordinary effort and their leadership toward a bipartisan subcommittee mark. He did extraordinary work reaching across the aisle and getting everybody's thoughts and ideas about what should be in the subcommittee mark, something that should also be part of every continuing effort subsequently. I have no doubt in his support for our national security, and I appreciate his dedication and passion for this effort.

In the end, I am hopeful that our amendment debate in the following days will serve to make our bill a stronger, bipartisan bill. But in its current form, I urge my colleagues to oppose final passage.

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