Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-1) applauded House passage of the Fiscal Year 2014 National Defense Authorization Act Thursday evening, after original House passage in June.
“The House has certainly done its job in moving this critical legislation through in a timely manner,” Wittman said. “It is now up to the Senate to pass this bill that is vital for the men and women of our armed forces, and for our nation’s security. With so many important initiatives lagging, the House has shown true leadership and put aside partisan differences to pass this bill which goes far toward addressing the damaging impacts of sequestration on our national security and, perhaps most importantly, our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines who serve this nation.”
Wittman highlighted critical portions of the FY14 NDAA, specifically:
• Allocates nearly $3 billion readiness dollars across all three components – Active, Guard, and Reserve – providing needed funds for critical programs including the flying hour program, facilities maintenance and sustainment, depot maintenance, and combat support forces equipment and sustainment;
• Boosts DOD's ability to respond to future crises like Benghazi by adding $75 million for unfunded requirements such as the expansion of the Marine Security Guard program at our diplomatic posts and the establishment of a Crisis Response unit;
• Prohibits DOD from initiating another round of BRAC at this time to ensure appropriate focus on the withdrawal from Afghanistan and a well-informed assessment of our nation’s defense strategy moving forward;
• Provides for $11 billion dollars of MILCON for urgently needed base infrastructure improvements; and
• Reauthorizes 1.5 million acres of public land for training range access to ensure our forces have the ability to train the way we expect them to fight.
Wittman continued, “As we work to complete this bill, we need to be mindful that our highest constitutional duty is to provide for a common defense. That starts with ensuring the men and women who volunteer to wear the uniform and are currently deployed around the world are equipped to address every engagement we send them to with overwhelming military superiority -- and that they never enter a fair fight. The Senate must act – and not leave our men and women in uniform out in the cold.”
Congressman Rob Wittman represents the First District of Virginia. He serves on the House Natural Resources Committee and the House Armed Services Committee where he is the Chairman of the Readiness Subcommittee.
