Providing for Consideration of H.R. National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024

Floor Speech

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Ms. SEWELL. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time.

Mr. Speaker, as a proud member of the House Committee on Armed Services and the Representative for critical military installations in Alabama, I take very seriously my responsibility to ensure that our servicemen and -women get the tools and support that they need to keep our Nation safe.

This year's NDAA, as it is currently written, does just that. The bill will help modernize Alabama's Air National Guard facilities and support leadership training at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama.

It also includes record funding to support research at HBCUs and makes significant investments in the health and well-being of our servicemen and -women and their families.

While I voted to pass the NDAA out of committee last month, I remain very concerned that my Republican colleagues are trying to push poison pill amendments--amendments focused on culture wars; not unity, but division, and not Social Security or Medicaid or our national security.

For 61 years, Congress has passed the NDAA with bipartisan support. I implore my colleagues across the aisle to not break this tradition of national importance.

Mr. Speaker, every year since I came to Congress, I have been proud to vote for the NDAA. I am not sure that I can vote in favor of it this year if those poison pills are included.

Mr. Speaker, I implore my Republican colleagues to keep the NDAA intact as it was from the committee. I will vote against the rule, but I hope to be able to vote in favor of the bill.

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