Wittman Statement on House Passage of the Fiscal Year 2014 National Defense Authorization Act
WASHINGTON, DC – House Armed Services Readiness Subcommittee Chairman Rob Wittman (VA-1) released the following statement after the House voted to pass the Fiscal Year 2014 National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 1960) by a vote of 315-108:
"Our most sacred duty, as outlined in Article 1, section 8 of the Constitution is to provide for the common defense – to support the men and women we ask to fight on our behalf on the fields of battle. I'm proud to work with the largest, bipartisan committee in the House to pass this bill for the 52nd year in a row. The Department of Defense has been pressured through a series of internal efficiency initiatives and years of consecutive budget cuts. While this bill will not fix all of our nation's readiness challenges, it goes far in addressing depleted force readiness levels and associated levels of assumed risk. I'm pleased that the House bill provides for the fleet of eleven Naval aircraft carriers, and continues to provide funding for troops deployed across the globe. This bill also includes much-needed, serious efforts to fight sexual assault in the military. Our nation faces many challenges, but we can face them with much greater confidence and strength because of the men and women of our all-volunteer force who have and continue to selflessly serve our nation. I will continue to fight for them as this bill moves through the process to become law."