Hudson's Legislation to Support Troops Passes House
May 19, 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 18, 2016
HUDSON’S LEGISLATION TO SUPPORT TROOPS PASSES HOUSE
House Approves Critical Defense Bill with Hudson’s Key Amendments to Protect Training of Fort Bragg Paratroopers and to Investigate the Mismanaged Adoptions of Military Working Dogs
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (NC-08) released the following statement after the House passed the bipartisan FY17 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA):
“It’s our government’s chief responsibility to guarantee our men and women in uniform have the equipment, resources and support needed to carry out their missions, and today’s measure honors that obligation. For our paratroopers at Fort Bragg – the epicenter of the universe – it holds the Air Force accountable to ensure that our rapid reaction forces are prepared for deployment at a moment's notice. This legislation is a step in the right direction to address the growing threats we face in a cost-efficient, responsible way.”
“Additionally, it continues my quest to get answers for veterans who were unable to adopt their combat dogs because of hollow promises from our government. Our service members carry an incredible responsibility to defend our national security, and I will continue to fight for them so that they get the training, care, and respect they deserve.”
Reps. Hudson and Renee Ellmers (NC-02) filed an amendment to the NDAA that would create additional congressional oversight over airborne operations at Fort Bragg. It requires the Secretary of the Air Force and the Secretary of the Army to give quarterly reports to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees specifying the number of airborne jumps and evaluating the level of air support provided by the Pentagon. Click here to watch Rep. Hudson's floor speech in support of this amendment.
An outspoken supporter of military working dogs and their handlers, Rep. Hudson also filed an amendment to request information on the mismanaged adoptions of military working dogs (MWDs) from the former Tactical Explosive Detector Dog (TEDD) Program. It directs the Secretary of the Air Force to provide a detailed report on the adoption application process to the Senate Committee on Armed Services and the House Committee on Armed Services.
For more information on Rep. Hudson’s work on behalf of soldiers and their war dogs, click here.
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Issues:Defense & National Security