WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Chairman Mac Thornberry (R-TX), of the House Armed Services Committee, made the following remarks upon passage of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019:
"This conference report takes a major step toward rebuilding our military, reforming the Pentagon, and better preparing this nation for the national security challenges of today and tomorrow.
The bill takes actions directly related to the aggressive behavior of Russia and China. By implementing the new National Defense Strategy in this bill, America will be better prepared against threats from these and other countries over the long term.
At the top of our priorities are the men and women who volunteer to serve our nation in the military. The NDAA keeps faith with our troops, ensuring that if we send men and women out on missions for this nation, they have the best equipment, the best training, the best support that our nation can provide.
Much of the advantage that these measures give our military will be lost, however, if Congress fails to follow the NDAA with an appropriations bill that is both adequate and on time. This is the earliest the House has acted on an NDAA in many years. There is no reason that Congress should not be able to take up and pass the defense spending bill before the end of the fiscal year so that Congress can keep faith with our troops and fully fund the military when we return in September."
Jul 26, 2018
Press Release