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Today, Congressman Bob Latta (R-OH5) released the following statement after voting in support of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA):

“For over 60 years, the National Defense Authorization Act has been enacted by Congress to guarantee the United States’ military readiness and support our men and women in uniform as they carry out their mission to defend our interests both at home and abroad. I’m pleased this year’s NDAA accomplishes these goals by funding critical national security programs, providing the largest increase in servicemember pay in 20 years, and counteracting aggression by the Chinese Communist Party while saving more than $40 billion in taxpayer dollars without limiting or sacrificing our national security. With rigorous oversight provided by Republicans in the House, this important legislation also rejects radical proposals by the Biden administration to reduce the size of our Navy and enact Green New Deal initiatives. It also provides a path back to service for servicemembers who were discharged for not taking the COVID-19 vaccine.

“With threats from foreign adversaries steadily on the rise, we must remain vigilant in strengthening our national security. With the passage of this year’s NDAA, our Armed Forces will have the resources they need to keep our people and country safe.”

NDAA background and provisions:

The annual defense legislation sets priorities and policies for the U.S. armed services. The FY24 NDAA saves taxpayer dollars while improving military readiness, increasing pay for servicemembers, countering aggression from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and making critical investments in the United States’ national defense. The FY24 NDAA provisions include:  

·         A 5.2% increase in servicemember pay, the largest increase in 20 years.

·         Rejecting the Biden administration’s efforts to reduce the size of the Navy.

·         Increased funding for innovative new technologies needed to deter the CCP on future battlefields, including AI, autonomous systems, cyber, mobile micronuclear reactors, and high energy lasers.

·         Increased funding for military information operations assistance to Indo-Pacific allies to counter Chinese influence operations.

·         $240 million to reduce servicemembers out-of-pocket housing expenses to counteract the skyrocketing cost of rent.

·         Saves $40 billion in taxpayer dollars – or 5% of current defense spending levels – without sacrificing national security.

The NDAA also provides a path back to service for 8,000 servicemembers discharged for failing to take the COVID-19 vaccine by:

·         requiring the Secretary of Defense to inform each discharged servicemember of the process they can follow to be reinstated,

·         requiring the Service Secretaries to consider reinstating separated servicemembers at the same rank, and

·         treating the time away from service for any servicemember reinstated as a ‘career intermission’ so it does not impact future promotions.

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