Amo Statement on National Defense Authorization Act

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Gabe Amo (RI-01) released the following statement on the National Defense Authorization Act:

“The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is one of the most important annual bills that Congress works on — with a 60-plus year tradition of bipartisan passage given its importance to our servicemembers and national defense,” said Congressman Gabe Amo. “In this year's version, I was encouraged to see consensus provisions that will benefit Rhode Islanders and those serving our nation —a 14.5% pay raise for junior enlisted servicemembers, a 4.5% raise for all others who serve, authorization for a second Virginia-class submarine, a Special Envoy to Sudan, and a greater focus on our regional security agreements. Unfortunately, Speaker Mike Johnson decided to detonate a bipartisan bill by inserting an extreme, partisan culture war provision at the 11th hour that I cannot support. 

“It is unconscionable that Republicans allowed the hijacking of a bill intended to keep our country safe,” continued Congressman Amo. “It will negatively impact the families of our servicemembers. This is dangerous for our national security, which is why I agree with both House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-AL) and Ranking Member Adam Smith (D-WA) that these provisions have no place in this bill. I voted no because we should have a real bipartisan process that supports our troops and their families, strengthens our national security, and does not target any community. We have to do better.”