Thank you for contacting our office. Your views are important to us, and we appreciate hearing from you.
Congress has an obligation to develop defense policies that bolster our national security, support our allies, ensure military readiness, and support those who serve and protect our nation both during service and during this transition to civilian life.
As you know, Congress establishes funding and policies for the Department of Defense through the National Defense Authorization Act (“NDAA”), an annual legislative package that ensures our military is properly equipped, supported, and ready to protect our national interests at home and abroad. H.R. 2670, the Fiscal Year 2024 NDAA, was introduced in the House of Representatives on April 18, 2023 and passed the House by a vote of 219-210 on July 14th. The House and the Senate are conferring to reconcile different versions of the NDAA and will return a final, negotiated conference bill to each chamber for a second vote.
The NDAA has historically been a bipartisan product that supports our nation’s defense. Unfortunately, numerous partisan provisions against reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ servicemembers and family members, and anti-diversity and inclusion initiatives were included in the bill. These policies harm the rights and health care of our military personnel and their families and undermine our military readiness. I opposed this version of H.R. 2670 when it came before the House. However, it is my hope that the positive provisions remain in the conference bill, including benefits for service members, policies to address threats posed by malign actors, and my cybersecurity amendment that supports jobs for departing service members, to produce a bill that truly reflects our defense priorities and values. As the House and Senate continue to negotiate the NDAA, I will keep your views in mind.
Thank you again for taking the time to share your views. For assistance with a federal agency, please submit a form at menendez.house.gov. To stay updated on the issues that are important to you, please sign up for our newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and Twitter.
Sincerely,
Robert J. Menendez Member of Congress New Jersey’s Eighth Congressional District
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