Hudson Urges House Democrats to Put Troops over Politics
July 12, 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 12, 2019
Hudson Urges House Democrats to Put Troops over Politics
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (NC-08), Fort Bragg’s Congressman, released the following statement after voting against a partisan National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would jeopardize readiness, undermine our military’s ability to do their jobs, and cut critical support and funding for our troops and their families:
“House Democrats aren’t just abandoning six decades of bipartisan tradition – they’re abandoning our troops and their families,” said Rep. Hudson.“This is shameful and outrageous. I urge my Democrat colleagues to stop politicizing our national defense, think of our troops and their families, and work with us to bring a bipartisan bill to the floor.”
Historically, the NDAA enjoys wide bipartisan collaboration and support. The House has never failed to pass a bipartisan NDAA in the past 58 years. In fact, The Washington Postnoted this year's process was "a marked departure from previous years, when lawmakers have squabbled over provisions but ultimately joined hands across party lines to endorse their final product."
The Senate recently passed their version of the NDAA on a sweeping bipartisan basis (86-8) with the support of the White House, but this week House Democrats pushed a far-left partisan bill that has a lower topline number and would undercut our military’s readiness. The House Democrats’ NDAA would underfund the Department of Defense (DOD), advance hyper-partisan policies that harm readiness and modernization, seek to close the facility at Guantánamo Bay, and prohibit securing our southern border.
Several policies could directly impact Fort Bragg, including:
- The bill would cut $1.2 billion in military personnel funding accounts, the same accounts that fund troop pay, benefits and housing.
- The bill would cut $1.6 billion in funding for operations and maintenance, getting rid of vital resources, training and tools and putting our soldiers at risk.
- The bill would cut 17,500 troops from commands based at Fort Bragg.
- The bill would cut $49.5 million from Army Aircraft Procurement from President Donald Trump’s request.
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Issues:Defense & National Security