Blog

This week, the House is working through the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). In overly simple terms, the NDAA is annual legislation that sets the operating budget of our Defense Department and (to an extent) prescribes how those funds are to be used.

It remains to be seen whether I’ll be able to vote in favor of the final version of this legislation. There are still a lot of unknowns. I have, however, proposed several excellent amendments to this year’s NDAA, including:

𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 #𝟏𝟒𝟔𝟓 to eliminate a lot of this woke “diversity, equity, and inclusion” nonsense. Because the military’s sole focus is to protect the American people and our freedoms, NOT leftists' feelings. This Amendment would eliminate any offices of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Armed Forces and Department of Defense.

𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 #𝟑𝟎 concerning gender transitions: The Exceptional Family Member Program should be fully used to support families with special needs and chronic illnesses, NOT for gender transition procedures, including surgery and/or medication.

𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 #𝟔𝟔𝟏– The COST Act. Taxpayers deserve to know EXACTLY what their money is funding. This Amendment requires the cost of any project funded with financial support from the Department of Defense to disclose the cost to taxpayers.

𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 #𝟔𝟑𝟗 & #𝟔𝟓𝟎 for Major James Capers, Jr. Amendment #639 authorizes the President to award Major James Capers Jr. the Medal of Honor for acts of valor as a member of the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War, in which he was awarded the Silver Star. Amendment #650 recommends that the Secretary of the Navy shall name a vessel of the United States Navy the ‘‘U.S.S. Major James Capers Jr.’’ in honor of Maj. Capers.

𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 #𝟏𝟑𝟖𝟑 for Department of Defense audits. Reducing government spending is my #1 priority. Last year, the DOD was unable to account for 61% of its $3.5 trillion in assets. Let's require the DOD to pass an independent audit, or else 1.5% of its budget would be returned for deficit reduction.

𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 #𝟏𝟒𝟐𝟎 – No Mask Mandates! COVID is OVER! This Amendment prohibits any sort of mask mandate regarding the spread of COVID-19 on any military installation in this country.

𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 #𝟏𝟒𝟔𝟒 against progressive symbolism: Supreme Court Justice Stevens wrote, “[Our flag] is a symbol of freedom, of equal opportunity, of religious tolerance, and of good will for other peoples who share our aspirations.” This Amendment codifies that.

𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 #𝟑𝟏𝟑 to make Russia pay! Russia should pay for the damage they are inflicting, not American taxpayers. This Amendment directs the President to use confiscated assets from the Russian government to offset the costs of any aid that the United States sends to support Ukraine.

𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 #𝟏𝟐𝟔𝟕 would establish a Joint Select Committee to investigate Biden’s totally incompetent, disastrous, and horribly botched withdrawal from Afghanistan.