Rep. Susan W. Brooks (R-IN) recently expressed her support of the Senate’s version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), citing its ability to prioritize national security and provide military readiness funding increases.
She had previously voted against the House edition NDAA and provided a statement regarding her actions.
“For 58 years, the Armed Services Committee has passed a bipartisan NDAA,” Brooks said. “This bill cuts critical programs designed to deter Russia and China, cuts personnel accounts by over one billion dollars, cuts nuclear deterrent programs, and cuts readiness recovery. As the legislative process continues, I urge House leadership to consider the Senate’s version of the bill because it rises above partisan politics in order to prioritize our national security and provide needed funding in order to increase military readiness.”
Brooks said the NDAA House version funds defense and national security programs at $17 billion less than the Senate version while cutting personnel accounts funding troop pay and benefits by $1.2 billion. It also cuts nuclear deterrent programs and reduces programs designed to deter Russia and China, including cuts to hypersonics, ship construction and closes Guantanamo Bay to move terrorists to the United States.
The Senate’s measure authorizes a $750 billion national defense budget, including $24.1 billion in shipbuilding funds for 12 new Navy warships and 94 Lockheed Martin-built F-35 fighters, representing 16 more than the requested. It also establishes a secure next-generation wireless network (5G) components and capabilities in at least two Department of Defense installations.