Yesterday, the House of Representatives voted to pass the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Congressman Bruce Westerman (AR-04) released the following statement.
"Yesterday, I voted for the updated National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)," said Congressman Westerman. "As I anticipated, I'm happy to report that the harmful provisions creating Red Flag laws for members of our military and the inclusion of women in the draft were removed.
This final version of the NDAA reverses President Biden's dangerous cuts to our defense spending, invests in overdue cybersecurity improvements to protect the Pentagon from foreign actors such as China, Russia, and North Korea, modernizes our military capabilities, including the nuclear triad, and decreases our reliance on China. It holds the Biden Administration accountable for its disastrous handling of our withdrawal from Afghanistan, requires an investigation into the CCP's involvement in the birth of COVID-19, holds China accountable for its human rights violations, and protects servicemembers who decide against taking the COVID-19 vaccine.
This bill is a win for democracy and a wonderful example of bipartisanship at work. Our Fourth District neighbors who work in national defense industries, including the thousands of people who work in Camden and its surrounding businesses, will benefit from the 2021 NDAA, and I couldn't be prouder of my vote in favor of it."
Background
The NDAA:
- Fully funds the modernization of our nuclear triad, including the Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent, for which the supply chain will go through Camden Highland Industrial Park.
- Invests in cybersecurity and advanced software for the Pentagon that is long overdue to protect from cyberattacks by malign actors such as China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.
- Decreases our reliance on Chinese products and technology. The NDAA addresses this by phasing out the use of Chinese printed circuit boards in DoD-acquired equipment, preventing DoD from acquiring PPE from China, and requiring DoD to prioritize domestic production of critical minerals and pharmaceutical ingredients
- Establishes the policy of the U.S. to maintain the ability to resist Chinese efforts to seize control of Taiwan.
- Requires DoD and DNI to assess the involvement of the CCP in the origins of COVID-19.
- Prohibits DoD purchases of goods made by Uyghurs in Chinese forced labor camps.
- Includes funding for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), which provides support and assistance to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. This is increasingly important as Russia escalates its aggression toward and harassment of Ukraine, with the stated intent to invade and occupy.
- Invests in hypersonic missile development, of which we lag behind China and Russia, both of which are testing hypersonic missiles.
- Prohibits DoD from providing any financial support to the Taliban.
- Establishes an independent commission to review the entirety of the Afghanistan War, including the disastrous withdrawal. These findings and recommendations will be presented to Congress
- Retains prohibition on dishonorable discharges for servicemembers who refuse the COVID-19 vaccine. This will retroactively apply to the date of the DoD COVID-19 vaccine order.
- Requires uniform standards under which servicemembers may be exempted from receiving the COVID-19 vaccine for administrative, medical, or religious reasons.
