Motion to Instruct Conferees on H.R. National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Rogers and Representative Jackson for their important work on this really critical issue.

Mr. Speaker, historically, Americans have transitionally held the most positive view of the U.S. military among all of our institutions, but something changed last year. Right now, less than half of Americans now have a great deal of confidence and trust in the military.

You want to know why? The reason stated is because the military leadership has become overly politicized. They are addressing issues that don't have anything to do with our national defense.

The best example of that probably is Secretary Austin's policy of reimbursing travel expenses for servicemembers seeking an abortion.

The law is clear, as the chairman has stated. Title 10, section 1093, explicitly prohibits funds available to the DOD from being used to perform abortions.

The statute was drafted, passed, and signed into law by the people's duly elected representatives. This politicized Department of Defense has decided to create a workaround.

Thankfully, the House-passed NDAA will end this lawlessness. We have to stand for that. The House has spoken on the issue, and the House's position is very clear.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to defeat this motion to instruct.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source