Dec 11, 2013
Defense Drumbeat
Military Leaders, Wash. Post and Key Defense Groups Support
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Urges Passage
General Martin Dempsey's Letter to Boehner, Pelosi, Reid, and McConnell
"As we enter the final weeks of December, I write to urge you to complete the National
Defense Authorization Act this year. The authorities contained therein are critical to the Nation's defense and urgently needed to ensure we all keep faith with the men and women, military and civilian, selflessly serving in our Armed Forces. Allowing the Bill to slip to January adds yet more uncertainty to the force and further complicates the duty of our commanders who face shifting global threats. I also fear that delay may put the entire Bill at risk, protracting this uncertainty and impacting our global influence." ...
Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps: NDAA Passage is a National Security Imperative
USMC General James Amos Letter to Speaker Boehner
"I am writing to you today to express in the clearest terms possible that passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) prior to the end of the current calendar year is a national security imperative. This year's NDAA contains authorities critical to our Nation's defense that enable us to protect the American people while keeping our promises to our Marines, Sailors and Civilians. Though you have already received a similar plea from the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, the importance of this bill has direct impacts on the Marine Corps as well as the joint force that you should hear from me.
As a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, I am gravely concerned that, without timely
passage of the NDAA, critical authorities will expire.... As the Commandant of the Marine Corps, I am concerned that failure to pass an NDAA will break faith with our Marines, Sailors and Civilians on authorizations for their pay and benefits. I cannot express enough the significance of the landmark legislation contained therein that reforms our judicial processes and provides increased support for the victims of sexual assault."
"A Defense Deal that Would Serve the Country is Within Reach"
Washington Post Editorial Board
"...It’s a decent compromise that the leaders of both chambers ought to embrace and bring to a vote in the coming days.
A failure to do so would be a new political low for this Congress. The NDAA has been passed for 51 consecutive years, even when much of the rest of government had to make do with temporary authorities. But much more than political symbolism is at issue. Though defense funding ultimately must be provided by appropriators, the authorization bill extends vital Pentagon authorities and sanctions new operations"
Key Defense Groups Support in Letter to Congressional Leaders
The NDAA has a uniquely long and bipartisan history owing to your strong commitment to our men and women in uniform. We commend the Congress for a year of important debates on major policy issues, and we further commend the House and Senate Armed Services Committees for producing a bill that can pass both the House and Senate. All sides have made an extraordinary effort to produce this critical NDAA conference report. We support this legislation and urge its expeditious passage."
General Martin Dempsey's Letter to Boehner, Pelosi, Reid, and McConnell
"As we enter the final weeks of December, I write to urge you to complete the National
Defense Authorization Act this year. The authorities contained therein are critical to the Nation's defense and urgently needed to ensure we all keep faith with the men and women, military and civilian, selflessly serving in our Armed Forces. Allowing the Bill to slip to January adds yet more uncertainty to the force and further complicates the duty of our commanders who face shifting global threats. I also fear that delay may put the entire Bill at risk, protracting this uncertainty and impacting our global influence." ...
Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps: NDAA Passage is a National Security Imperative
USMC General James Amos Letter to Speaker Boehner
"I am writing to you today to express in the clearest terms possible that passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) prior to the end of the current calendar year is a national security imperative. This year's NDAA contains authorities critical to our Nation's defense that enable us to protect the American people while keeping our promises to our Marines, Sailors and Civilians. Though you have already received a similar plea from the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, the importance of this bill has direct impacts on the Marine Corps as well as the joint force that you should hear from me.
As a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, I am gravely concerned that, without timely
passage of the NDAA, critical authorities will expire.... As the Commandant of the Marine Corps, I am concerned that failure to pass an NDAA will break faith with our Marines, Sailors and Civilians on authorizations for their pay and benefits. I cannot express enough the significance of the landmark legislation contained therein that reforms our judicial processes and provides increased support for the victims of sexual assault."
"A Defense Deal that Would Serve the Country is Within Reach"
Washington Post Editorial Board
"...It’s a decent compromise that the leaders of both chambers ought to embrace and bring to a vote in the coming days.
A failure to do so would be a new political low for this Congress. The NDAA has been passed for 51 consecutive years, even when much of the rest of government had to make do with temporary authorities. But much more than political symbolism is at issue. Though defense funding ultimately must be provided by appropriators, the authorization bill extends vital Pentagon authorities and sanctions new operations"
Key Defense Groups Support in Letter to Congressional Leaders
"On behalf of the companies and members of the Aerospace Industries Association, the Air Force Association, the Association of the United States Army, the Navy League of the United States, the National Defense Industrial Association, the National Guard Association of the United States, and the Shipbuilders Council of America, we urge you to take up and pass the fiscal year 2014 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in this session.
The NDAA has a uniquely long and bipartisan history owing to your strong commitment to our men and women in uniform. We commend the Congress for a year of important debates on major policy issues, and we further commend the House and Senate Armed Services Committees for producing a bill that can pass both the House and Senate. All sides have made an extraordinary effort to produce this critical NDAA conference report. We support this legislation and urge its expeditious passage."
113th Congress