St. Paul Reporter

Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, released the following statement on July 14 after the House narrowly passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA):

“House Republicans have once again abandoned any sense of bipartisanship when it comes to our national security by passing a National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) filled with extreme social policy riders,” McCollum said. “As Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, I fought against the same outrageous provisions three weeks ago when Republicans included them in this year’s Defense Appropriations Act. Provisions that deny reproductive health care access to our service members and their families, attack the rights of LGBTQ+ service members, and discourage building a diverse military have no place in the NDAA, just like they have no place in the annual appropriations process. I am deeply concerned that if this NDAA were to become law as written, it would signal to many Americans who want to join our all-volunteer military that they are unwelcome. Our service members sacrifice so much to protect and defend our nation. They deserve better than this partisan process Republicans have created to cater to their right wing.”

Original source can be found here.