Rep. Chu Statement on National Defense Authorization Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 2670, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024.

Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28) spoke on the House Floor in opposition to Republican amendments to the bill and issued the following statement upon its passage:

“Because extreme MAGA Republicans hijacked a typically bipartisan process to advance a deeply unpopular, far-right agenda that will hurt our national security and servicemembers, I voted in opposition to the NDAA.

“The bill is anti-freedom and anti-women by preventing servicemembers and their families’ from accessing abortion care. The bill is anti-diversity by eliminating funding to address extremism in the Department of Defense and eliminating Diversity, Equity and Inclusion positions and processes designed to make our military inclusive and reflective of the country it protects. The bill is anti-science and anti-readiness by reinstating those who disobeyed a lawful order to be vaccinated against COVID-19, which would undermine the chain of command and discipline that underpins our military’s effectiveness. The bill is homophobic and censors LGBTQ+ people in the military by banning pride flags and books in military-affiliated libraries. The bill is anti-environment by removing the requirement for contractors to disclose their greenhouse gas emissions. The bill denies trans people’s existence by denying servicemembers and their families gender-affirming care.

“Further, after three years of anti-Asian hate, the bill opens the door to additional violence and attacks against Asian Americans by targeting Asian researchers and scientists and interfering with scientific collaboration, and by peddling xenophobic conspiracy theories about COVID-19.

“House Republican leaders couldn’t take yes to increased military funding as an answer and send a unified message to the country and world that Congress can work together to maintain the strength of our military. What began as an extremely bipartisan process in committee became a vehicle for MAGA extremism on the Floor, poisoning the process and losing Democratic support—including my own.”

The FY24 NDAA authorizes $886.3 billion in military spending, an increase of $28.3 billion over last year and $44 billion more than President Biden’s budget request. The bill includes important provisions like a 5.2% pay raise for servicemembers and an elimination of TRICARE copays on contraception for one year. The bill also undermines initiatives to promote diversity within our ranks, limits the Pentagon’s ability to counter extremism within the Department, and maintains the prohibition on transferring detainees out of the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, ensuring the facility will remain in operation for another year.

This bill also includes provision to reinstate a China Initiative that targets Chinese American researchers and continues to promote conspiracy theories about the origins of COVID-19.

Republican Leadership permitted amendments to the bill, including amendments denying servicemembers necessary abortion care, prohibiting health care for transgender troops, and eliminating any offices charged with improving diversity, equity, and inclusion in the military.