Washington, D.C.— U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (KY-06) voted in support of the fiscal year (FY) 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The NDAA provides $850 billion to modernize and strengthen our military. This package also contains a 4.6% pay raise for troops. Congressman Barr released the following statement regarding his vote:
“Servicemembers are struggling to keep up with inflation and provide for their families while they protect our country. While this raise isn’t enough to completely erase the impact of inflation, it will help our servicemembers as I continue to push to reverse the disastrous economic policies that created this historic inflation crisis. The NDAA also allocates a 2.4% pay bonus for enlisted military members to support lower-income military families.
“Additionally, the NDAA combats the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) by providing $7 billion to the Pacific Deterrence Initiative and by fully funding military exercises in the Pacific to dissuade any further CCP aggression in the region. Furthermore, the NDAA requires regular updates to Congress on the status of arms sales to Taiwan to ensure our Taiwanese partners are fully equipped prior to any potential CCP attack on the island.
“In Europe, the NDAA reinforces the Eastern flank of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization by providing $225 million to the Baltic Security Initiative. This package also fully funds the European Deterrence Initiative to thwart any further incursion by Russia into Eastern Europe.
“Finally, the NDAA extends the prohibition on dishonorable discharges for military servicemembers who chose not to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. It also rejects the Biden Administration’s attempt to make the military go woke by injecting language into the NDAA reiterating that lethality is the central tenet of our national defense strategy. For all of these reasons, I voted yes on the NDAA.”
Multiple amendments from Congressman Barr were adopted in the NDAA. These amendments include:
- An amendment 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.
- An amendment requiring the Secretary of Defense to complete a study on the feasibility of additional DoD resources necessary to facilitate increased military cooperation between the United States and Taiwan.
- An amendment requiring a report 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.
- An amendment requiring the Secretary of State to report on Chinese support to Russia with respect to its unprovoked invasion of and full-scale war against Ukraine.
- An amendment requiring the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs to provide a plan for a pilot program to screen for obstructive sleep apnea among persons going through the accessions program.