Hartzler won't support Defense Authorization Act because they didn't do it her way

(From Fourth District Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler)

Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler (R-Mo.), Ranking Member of the Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee, issued the following statement regarding her opposition to the House passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023:

“Despite the best efforts by my Republican colleagues and I to bring forth a defense bill which properly invests in the security and safety of our nation, House Democrats decided to bring forth provisions unrelated to defense on the House floor, including immigration provisions which are not under the jurisdiction of the House Armed Services Committee. 

"Additionally, the Rules Committee failed to allow several amendments I cosponsored to protect service members from the vaccine mandate to be considered for debate. 

"As a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee who worked on this original legislation in committee, I am frustrated that germane amendments offered by Republicans were not ruled in order, while Democrat amendments unrelated to national defense were considered.

While I cannot support this bill as it currently stands, I am hopeful that these harmful and illogical amendments will be swiftly stripped out when the House and Senate convene in conference before final passage of the legislation.”

While Hartzler could not support the overall package, her efforts in committee did result in many wins for Missouri:

-8 F/A-18 Super Hornets and 24 F-15EX aircraft, which are made in St. Louis by Boeing.

-Funding for Army small caliber ammunition, which are produced at the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant (LCAAP).

-Funding to support needed modernization and safety upgrades at LCAAP.

-Full funding for the B-21 program, which will eventually replace the B-2 at Whiteman Air Force Base.

-Modernization funding for the B-2 to ensure the aircraft maintains its long-range strike capability until the B-21 is fully operational.

-Protects criminal investigative command (CID) training at Fort Leonard Wood.

-Includes Hartzler’s Help for All Servicemembers Act, which expands the current authorization of support for chaplain-led programs to include resiliency, suicide prevention, and holistic wellness for single service members.

-Includes Hartzler’s Connecting the Community to End Military Suicide Act, which allows a service member to take up to two weeks of permissive temporary duty each year to attend a seminar, retreat, workshop, or outdoor recreational therapy event hosted by a non-profit that focuses on psychological, physical, spiritual, or social wellness.

-Requires the DoD to provide Congress with information on the number of involuntary and voluntary discharges related to DoD’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

-Requires the DoD and USDA to provide information to Congress on the capability and capacity to prevent and respond to a foreign animal disease outbreak, such as Foot and Mouth Disease.

The NDAA is annual legislation that determines the policies and funding levels for the Department of Defense and other national security entities.