Congress’s most important responsibility is providing our men and women in uniform the equipment and training they need to protect us every day. The Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act does just that.

The FY24 NDAA authorizes a total of $886.3 billion in spending for the Department of Defense and includes $316.6 million in construction funds for our military bases in Alabama. Service members in Alabama, from Redstone Arsenal to Fort Novosel and right here in Mobile will be taken care of because of this year’s NDAA. 

The NDAA also bans the teaching of CRT in our military and makes drastic cuts to the woke DEI workforce in the department. For our Southern border, the NDAA fully funds our National Guardsmen in support of Border Patrol activities and requires the Department of Defense to use or transfer border wall materials to border states. 

Most importantly, this bill authorizes a 5.2% pay raise for our men and women in uniform. This is the largest pay raise they have received in over 20 years. In Alabama alone, over 37,000 service members will receive a pay raise. At a time when Democrat’s policies continue to make the cost of living more and more expensive, it is critical we make sure our service members can take care of their families. 

Despite some misinformation being pushed, there is nothing in this bill relating to taxpayer dollars being used to fund travel for abortions or gender reassignment surgeries. Although the NDAA is not perfect, we have a duty as members of Congress to take care of our service members and make national security a top priority.

 With China and Russia becoming more dangerous and Israel under attack, this is the time to step up, get to work, and support our military. A vote against this bill is a vote against our service members and in support of those who wish to hurt us.

 Jerry Carl represents Alabama’s First Congressional District. He lives in Mobile with his wife Tina