WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Austin Scott (GA-08), a Member of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC), released the below statement on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2020 (H.R. 2500).
 

“For nearly 60 years, Congress has passed the monumental and bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act that provides for our troops and keeps our country safe. This year, however, I found myself unable to support the Democratic-led bill in the House Armed Services Committee mark-up, as it does more harm than good. It does not stem the flow of narcotics at the southern border. It does not grant our military commanders discretion to utilize submarine-based weapons. It prohibits transfers of terrorists to Guantanamo Bay Naval Base with no alternative plan to house them. During this markup, Democrats simply refused to compromise in order to reach a bipartisan consensus,” said Rep. Austin Scott. 

Rep. Scott continued: “I am very disappointed that this historically bipartisan process has been muddied with political amendments that I and almost all Republicans on the Committee could not support. As this legislation heads to the House Floor, I look forward to a constructive, bipartisan debate and amendments that maintain our military’s ability to be the most capable fighting force in the world.”
 

The NDAA sets Department of Defense (DOD) policy and authorizes funding levels for defense programs. The NDAA was passed out of Committee largely along partisan lines by a vote of 33-24.

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