Rep. Chu Votes Against National Defense Authorization Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the House of Representatives adopted the Conference Report accompanying H.R. 2670, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024, on a vote of 310-118.

Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28), who voted against the House version of the NDAA in July 2023, voted in opposition of the final version of the NDAA today and issued the following statement:

“I was encouraged to see this year’s NDAA make investments in our service members and their families, energy conservation, our alliance infrastructure around the world, and our military readiness. Further, I am deeply appreciative my Democratic colleagues in the House and Senate were able to block MAGA extremists from including malicious anti-women, anti-Asian, anti-environment, anti-science, and transphobic provisions within the final version of this year’s NDAA.

“I continue to hold the position that the NDAA should spend taxpayer dollars efficiently, but this year’s NDAA furthers unconstrained defense spending by authorizing $886 billion for the Pentagon, which is even higher than the President’s request and comes despite the Pentagon’s continued failure to pass an independent audit. The NDAA should also ensure our military reflects, represents, and protects the country it serves, but Republicans demanded the elimination of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion positions and the elimination of funding to counter the rise of violent extremism within our military. Further, this year’s bill includes a supposedly short-term extension of FISA section 702, which permits warrantless surveillance of Americans, through April 2024. But by failing to include language to prevent FISA Courts from recertifying this surveillance for another year, the bill effectively means a 16-month extension without necessary reforms. Finally, the bill again blocks the transfer of detainees out of the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, which continues to undermine the U.S. Constitution and stain our reputation globally.

“Because the final NDAA fails to reduce wasteful spending and retains troubling policies related to key civil liberties, I voted in opposition.”