Washington, D.C.— U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (KY-06) voted in support of the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act today. Following his vote, Congressman Barr released this statement:
“Today, I voted to strengthen our national defense by authorizing $858 billion in funding for the military, $45 billion above the President’s request. Included in this package is a 4.6% pay raise for our servicemembers, additional housing allowances, and expanded benefits for military families. All of this is well-deserved and much needed to help our servicemembers deal with the economic impact of forty-year high inflation.
"This bill includes my provision requiring a feasibility study on defense needs at the Blue Grass Army Depot following demolition and remediation of the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. This study will provide the community and the installation in Madison County valuable insight into opportunities for the site going forward.
“Additionally, the NDAA allocates over $11 billion to the Pacific Deterrence Initiative, designed to combat the rising threat of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in the region. Critically, the NDAA confirms U.S. support for the defense of Taiwan and Indo-Pacific Command’s authority to conduct joint exercises with Taiwan, regardless of the CCP’s pushback.
“Furthermore, the NDAA bill reaffirms our support for Ukraine to defend against the brutal and illegal Russian invasion by authorizing $800 million to the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative and requiring regular, comprehensive reviews and audits of assistance provided to Ukraine.
“Finally, we are eliminating once and for all the requirement of active duty and reserve military members to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Republicans also secured a provision pushing the Secretary of Defense to provide full veterans benefits to servicemembers discharged for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine.”
Congressman Barr also had several other provisions included in the NDAA:
- AXIS Act
- This bill requires the Department of State to periodically report to Congress on whether and how China's government, the Chinese Communist Party, or any other Chinese entity has provided support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
- Pacific Islands Embassies Act
- This legislation establishes U.S. embassies in the Republic of Vanuatu, the Republic of Kiribati, and the Kingdom of Tonga to reinforce American leadership in the Pacific region.
- Requirement the Secretary of Defense complete a study on the feasibility of additional DoD resources necessary to facilitate increased military cooperation between the United States and Taiwan.
- Requirement the Secretary of State report to Congress on the efforts of the American Institute in Taiwan to combat disinformation or propaganda perpetuated by the Chinese Communist Party and People's Republic of China.