National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027

Floor Speech

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Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of amendment No. 1. This amendment strikes section 1213 of the bill, which would delay the deadline for the Afghanistan War Commission's final report. Instead, it maintains the reporting deadline already established in current law.

The American people, our veterans, Gold Star families, and all who served in Afghanistan deserve timely answers. Congress created this commission to examine two decades of war, learn from our successes and failures, and ensure those lessons are not forgotten.

Delaying that work only postpones the accountability and transparency that the commission was created to provide. This amendment does not change the commission's mission. It does not alter its responsibilities. It simply ensures that the work Congress has already directed is completed on the timeline we originally required.

We owe it to those who served, those who sacrificed, and the American people to keep this important effort on track.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support amendment No. 1, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chairman, as was stated, this war was two decades. I don't believe the commission needs two decades to complete its work.

Mr. Chairman, I urge support of my colleagues for this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

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Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chairman, I rise to offer amendment No. 2 as the designee for Mr. Roy.

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Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of amendment No. 2.

America's military service academies have a clear and important mission: to educate, train, and prepare the next generation of officers who will lead our Armed Forces.

Admission to these institutions is highly competitive, and every available appointment represents a significant investment by the American taxpayer. This amendment ensures that those limited opportunities are reserved for American citizens who are preparing to serve our country in uniform.

Our first responsibility must be to young Americans who are willing to swear an oath to the Constitution and commit themselves to the defense of this Nation. Our service academies should remain focused on producing American military leaders for the American Armed Forces.

I urge my colleagues to support amendment No. 2. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
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Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chairman, this is an example of what the American people are frustrated with right now. We have a majority here. The American people gave Republicans a trifecta, and every time that Republicans step up to put America first, to make our industries, our military, our economy stronger, we side with Democrats to limit those capabilities.

I have talked with Americans from coast to coast. From our southern border to our northern border, from the heartland of America to the Rocky Mountains, people want us to do the right thing and put Americans first.

This is a commonsense amendment that reserves these special, limited opportunities for American citizens. Our service academies, again, should remain focused on producing American military leaders for the American Armed Forces.

When we see this kind of behavior of crossing the aisle to limit these possibilities for Americans, it is exactly why people back home watch us here on the House floor and get frustrated. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

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Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chairman, again, I urge my colleagues to support Chip Roy's amendment No. 2, and put American cadets first. I yield back the balance of my time.

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Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

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Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chairman, I rise to offer amendment No. 3 as the designee for Mr. Roy.

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Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of amendment No. 1300.

Our Nation's military service academies exist to develop officers for the United States Armed Forces.

Every cadet and midshipman receives a world-class education funded by the American taxpayer in exchange for a commitment to serve our country.

This amendment restores a longstanding cap on the number of cadets who may be released early to pursue professional athletics. Exceptional athletic talent is something we certainly should celebrate, but the primary mission of our service academies is military service, not professional sports.

This amendment helps ensure that early releases remain the exception, not the rule. It preserves the longstanding balance our service academies have maintained for years. Our military academies should remain focused on preparing leaders of character for our military, as Congress intended.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support amendment No.
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Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

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Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
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Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of my colleague Chip Roy's amendment No. 1301.

This amendment strikes the pilot program that would authorize voice analysis technology as a substitute for additional drug testing.

Our Armed Forces rely on proven standards to ensure military readiness, maintain good order and discipline, and uphold public confidence. Traditional drug testing has long served as a reliable and established tool in meeting these objectives. Before replacing a proven system with a new and untested technology, Congress should be confident that the alternative has demonstrated the same level of reliability and effectiveness.

This amendment takes a straightforward approach. It maintains the current standard rather than authorizing a pilot program to substitute for traditional drug testing. Our military deserves policies built on proven methods, not unnecessary experimentation.

Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support amendment No.

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Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

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Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

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