National Pulse Memorial

Floor Speech

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Mr. CRAWFORD. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Alabama for his leadership.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the 2022 NDAA. This process began months ago. A bill was introduced, Members offered amendments, debated accordingly, and reached bicameral consensus.

However, as Members arrived in Washington this afternoon, they realized they only had about 8 hours to review and vote on a 2,100-page document to secure our national defense--a surprising and frustrating process that has become all too familiar with House Democrats and the majority.

While I will always support our men and women in uniform, I am concerned that not all these men and women, specifically those who serve in the Army as explosive ordnance disposal technicians, as I once did, are adequately equipped to defend our Nation by this year's version of NDAA. I will continue to work hard to achieve this purpose going forward.

I am voting in favor of the legislation because of the critical funding it provides for our national defense, pay raises for our servicemen and -women, provisions to hold the Biden administration accountable on its irresponsible withdraw from Afghanistan, and serious steps to assess the involvement of the Chinese Communist Party in the origins of COVID-19 as well as their unacceptable and increasingly aggressive behavior around the world.

I sincerely hope that next year we have more time to absorb the final provisions of the NDAA to make sure that all of our troops feel confident they have the full support of Congress.

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