WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) today released the following statement after voting for the FY 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) last night.
“President Biden’s defense budget proposed harmful cuts to our national security that would have made America less safe. This NDAA reverses those cuts and boosts funding in a way that keeps faith with our men and women in uniform, delivers critical wins for Wisconsin, and ensures the U.S. is positioned to beat China. Beyond securing this critical increase in defense funding, this NDAA also holds the administration accountable for its disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, helps deliver answers into the Chinese Communist Party’s role in the origins of COVID-19, and no longer requires women to enroll in the selective service or includes concerning language surrounding red flag laws.
“It’s a win for our service members and a win for our national security. And at a time when President Biden’s weakness has invited aggression from adversaries like China and Russia, it helps deliver badly-needed provisions that ensure we are able to meet the challenges of the 21st century. I proudly supported this bill and hope the President quickly signs it into law.”
The NDAA is the legislative vehicle that authorizes spending for the Department of Defense. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Gallagher is responsible for helping draft this legislation.
The bill, which passed in overwhelming bipartisan fashion, included provisions that:
- Keep faith with our men and women in uniform by:
- Authorizing a 2.7% pay raise for service members.
- Rejecting efforts to require women to register for the draft and making no changes to the Selective Service System.
- Removing a harmful “Red Flag” provision that would have allowed judges issue to ex parte protective orders that prohibit firearm possession.
- Prohibiting service members from being dishonorably discharged for declining the COVD-19 vaccine and requiring DoD to consider the effects of natural immunity in setting medical standards.
- Secure critical wins for Wisconsin by:
- Providing full funding for the Constellation-class frigate.
- Securing program increases for Army tactical vehicles such as the FMTV ($25 million) and HEMTT ($109 million).
- Support deterrence in the Indo-Pacific by:
- Securing $7 billion for the Pacific Deterrence Initiative, including a requirement for specific plans to enhance force posture both west and east of the International Date Line.
- Fulfilling Marine Corps unfunded priorities for vital ground-launched missiles, including long range fires ($96 million) and ground-based anti-ship missiles ($57.8 million)
- Providing full funding for Army ground-launched missiles.
- Developing options to facilitate Marine Corps Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations prior to the operational availability of Light Amphibious Warships.
- Assessing the potential to modify Mark VI patrol boats with anti-ship missiles and transfer them to the Marine Corps.
- Requiring a detailed and publicly available annual report on ship maintenance.
- Establishing an independent review of the Pentagon’s Unified Command Plan.
- Reviewing the security of global maritime chokepoints from hostile kinetic attacks, cyber disruptions, and sabotage.
- Expanding the Navy’s authority to support museum operations to better tell the story of American seapower.
- Stand with Taiwan by:
- Making it US policy to maintain the military capacity to resist a fait accompli against Taiwan.
- Setting the stage for enhanced National Guard cooperation with Taiwan and its reserve forces.
- Mandate COVID-19 accountability by:
- Prohibiting DoD from working with the EcoHealth Alliance in China to conduct research supported by the Chinese government.
- Requiring DoD to report to Congress on the number of military personnel infected with COVID-19 at the 2019 World Military Games in Wuhan.
- Protect against next generation threats by:
- Establishing an Arctic Security Initiative to expand military posture, engagement, and infrastructure in the High North.
- Creating a National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology to ensure that the United States, and not the CCP, leads the world in revolutionary developments in synthetic biology.
- Mandating the establishment of operational tactics, techniques, and procedures governing emissions control disciple during all phases of operations.
- Enhance civil-military relations by:
- Lengthening “cooling” off periods for retired O-7s and above to serve as Secretary of Defense from 7 years to 10.
- Locating the Global War on Terrorism Memorial on the National Mall.
