Pappas Statement on Republican Majority’s Shamefully Politicized National Defense Bill

Today, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) released the following statement after voting against the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA):

“For years, the NDAA has been drafted on a bipartisan basis to meet the needs of our service members and military families and ensure that America has the strongest, best-prepared military in the world. This year’s process, however, was hijacked on the floor by radical voices who see this as an opportunity to play politics, appease Donald Trump and his allies, and force through their out-of-touch, discriminatory social agenda.

“The injection of culture war issues in this defense bill goes far beyond anything we’ve seen before. Attacks on personal freedoms and the stripping away of health care from servicemembers and their families not only undermines our security, but it also weakens our military readiness.

“I urge the House and Senate to shut out extreme voices and end these political games. We must pass a serious, national security-focused bill that gives a pay raise to servicemembers, addresses PFAS contamination, funds our defense industrial base and the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, and most of all, is worthy of the men and women in uniform who have stepped up to serve this great nation.”