Jayapal Votes “YES” on Progressive NDAA
Washington, D.C. – Today, Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) voted in favor of final passage of H.R. 2500, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2020.
“While I have severe concerns about our escalating military spending as a nation, and the related decades of austerity for needed domestic investments, this bill is still the most progressive NDAA the House has passed in recent history,” said Rep. Jayapal. “It specifically addresses the real threats of unauthorized military action, through the passage of progressive amendments to block military action against Iran, stop arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates without Congressional review and repeal the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force. The bill also reverses Trump’s unethical ban on transgender troops, limits further development of our nuclear arsenal and improves oversight of civilian casualties. Importantly, it provides 12 weeks of paid family leave to federal workers.”
“To address my concerns about rising military spending, I am proud that my amendment to require a series of comprehensive, independent studies to inform military spending bills in 2020 and 2021 passed, even with bipartisan support. My amendment takes a thoughtful, measured approach to ensure our military spending meets our national security needs while making the best use of every taxpayer dollar.
“Finally, I am working closely with Armed Services Chairman Adam Smith and Democratic leadership to prepare for a discussion on how to significantly cut this unsustainable military budget. It should never be considered patriotic to simply give more money to a wasteful Pentagon, rather than investing in diplomacy and other ways to ensure that we never send our troops into harm’s way except in extreme circumstances,” concluded Rep. Jayapal.
The House adopted three additional amendments from Rep. Jayapal, which will improve transparency into foreign influence at the Defense Department, increase funding for the National Guard Suicide Prevention Pilot Program and ban defense contractors with repeated wage theft violations from receiving future contracts.