Bergman Statement on FY2020 NDAA
Washington,
July 12, 2019
"This week I stood on the House floor to voice my opposition to the House version of the FY 2020 NDAA. What was once a bipartisan bill is now being used as a vehicle for policies that hinder military readiness and defense capabilities. For almost 60 years the NDAA has been a bipartisan endeavor. I’ve witnessed this firsthand from my first day of active duty in the Marine Corps in 1969, until the day I retired as a Lieutenant General.
"The NDAA fulfills the number one role of Congress - to provide for our national defense. Yet House Democratic leadership have turned this year's NDAA into another partisan bill: Ignoring calls from former Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis and other leaders in our defense community about the need for 3-5% real growth; turning our back on nuclear programs that have been widely successful in deterring bad actors like Russia, China, and Iran; and making changes to long-standing policies regarding Guantanamo Bay - allowing for the potential transfer of terrorist detainees to the United States. "Let me be clear: I support a pay raise for our troops, providing all warfighters with the best resources available, and a national defense authorization that empowers America and our allies. Unfortunately, this bill in its current form poses a great threat to carrying out our National Defense Strategy in the years ahead. "Fortunately, this is not the end of the road for the FY20 NDAA. I am hopeful that as this bill moves through the legislative process, and we go to conference with the Senate, we can adopt provisions already included in the Senate-passed NDAA and make this legislation stronger for our national security, and ultimately, all our warfighters." |