Washington, DC—September 23, 2021….Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) today voted to pass the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2022. The legislation, which includes several Womack-supported provisions, authorizes $778 billion for national security activities, including resources to equip our troops, support military families, enhance defense capabilities, strengthen military readiness, institute accountability related to the Afghanistan withdrawal, and modernize the force.

Congressman Womack said, “Our military stands watch as defenders of freedom and forces for good across the globe. We must always ensure our warfighters are the best equipped and trained, and this NDAA includes the elements necessary to resource our troops and protect the homeland. Importantly, it also makes clear that Congress won’t allow President Biden to shortchange our men and women in uniform by stopping the reckless cuts he proposed. This is an important step forward—but our obligations have yet to be fulfilled. Now, this institution must quickly refocus on passing full appropriations.” 

Authorizations in the bill Womack strongly supports:

• Stopping Biden Defense Cuts: Reverses harmful cuts proposed by President Biden and ensures our military is properly resourced.
• Troop Pay Raise: Gives our courageous troops a pay raise.
• Afghanistan Accountability: Implements more than 20 provisions to hold the Biden Administration accountable for its disastrous withdrawal in Afghanistan, including necessitating reports detailing the number of American citizens left behind, requiring a plan to evacuate them, and prohibiting any financial support of the Taliban.
• Confronting Russian Aggression: Requires mandatory sanctions against Putin’s Nord Stream 2 pipeline. This is necessary following President Biden’s misguided actions, which have enabled this geopolitical weapon for Moscow at every turn. Womack has helped lead the fight against this project to protect U.S. and European security.
• Countering China: Bolsters resources to improve lethality, reduces our reliance on Chinese supply chains, requires assessment of CCP ties to COVID-19 origins, and implements other deterrence efforts.
• Backing U.S. Allies: Enhances security cooperation with Singapore, prioritizes cooperation between the National Guard and Taiwan, and implements provisions of the Womack co-led Taiwan Peace and Stability Act to protect Taiwan’s sovereignty and curb Beijing’s control over the Indo-Pacific region.
• Supporting Arkansas Troops: Provides resources to support our troops at Ebbing, Fort Chaffee, and other Arkansas installations.
• Supports Nuclear Triad Modernization: Invests in needed nuclear triad modernization, including full funding of the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent, at a time when China is exponentially expanding its nuclear arsenal and Russia is modernizing its nuclear capabilities at an alarming rate.
• Helping Military Families: Follows the Natural State’s lead by ensuring portability of professional licensures for military spouses when their sponsor receives military change of station orders.
• Boosting Lethality: Invests in the tools needed to keep our troops safe, well-trained, and agile and procures critical defense equipment, including new submarines, ships, and advanced weapon systems.
• Advancing Innovation: Emphasizes policies and programs that advance America's security against emerging threats, including artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, biotechnology, and more.
• Border Security: Declares the situation at our southern border a national security crisis and directs National Guard resources to support enforcement efforts.

This marks the 61st consecutive year the House has fulfilled its constitutional duty to provide for the common defense by passing the NDAA. It will now advance to the Senate for a vote.

Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) has represented Arkansas’s Third Congressional District since 2011. He is a member of the House Appropriations Committee.

womack.house.gov

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