U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Saks) is pushing his colleagues in Congress to pass this year’s National Defense Authorization Act because it will help strengthen national security.

Rogers, who chairs the House Armed Services Committee, talked about the spending bill on the House floor Wednesday.

https://twitter.com/RepMikeRogersAL/status/1679226988286951424?s=20

“Congress has the constitutional duty to provide for our common defense,” Rogers said. “Every year, we fulfill that duty by passing the National Defense Authorization Act. The FY24 NDAA provides our warfighters the resources and authorities they need to provide for the defense of our nation and the security of our allies around the world. That’s critical because the threats we face today are more complex and serious than at any point in the last 30 years.”

Rogers also reflected on his recent visit to Taiwan and emphasized the need to deter the threats from China.

“Topping that list is an increasingly aggressive China,” he said. “Ranking Member Smith and I recently led a bipartisan delegation to Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines. What was clear from our meetings was that the threat posed by Chinese Communist Party is real and represents the most pressing national security challenge we’ve faced in decades. The FY24 NDAA was built with the underlying goal of deterring the Chinese Communist Party.

“It provides new authorities and speeds the fielding of innovative new technologies like AI and hypersonics that will give us the advantage in a conflict with China. It strengthens our security partnerships with Taiwan and Pacific allies. It fully funds and expedites the modernization of our nuclear deterrent. It builds a stronger and more capable missile defense. It protects U.S. military bases, critical infrastructure, and academic research from Chinese encroachment and espionage. It builds the logistics network in the Pacific the military needs to carry out operations against China. And it includes new authorities to retool and revitalize the industrial base to ensure they can deliver the systems we need to prevail in any conflict. Reorienting our defense to deter the threat from China will be an expensive endeavor.”

Rogers also said the bill is fiscally responsible.

“But we acknowledge there are limits on what we can afford to spend,” he said. “That’s why this NDAA is hyperfocused on rooting out waste at the DoD. If weapons systems are not responsive to the threats we face, we cut them. In fact, the NDAA includes nearly $40 billion in savings from cutting systems that can’t survive a conflict with China and by reigning in programs that have grown out of control. We also require the DoD (Inspector General) to review major defense programs for waste and we create a new Special Inspector General to oversee all aid to Ukraine. In the face of growing threats from China, it’s critical we restore the military’s focus on lethality. The FY24 NDAA does so by bringing to an end divisive policies implemented by this administration that have hurt recruiting, unit cohesion, and military readiness.”

Rogers concluded by noting how the legislation will also help military families.

“While I believe this will go a long way toward resolving the recruiting crisis we face, we also need to improve the quality of life for our servicemembers and their families,” he said. “The NDAA does that by providing for the largest pay raise in 30 years and authorizes a bonus for the junior enlisted. It increases allowances for housing and basic needs to counteract growing costs for food and housing. It authorizes $200 million more than the President requested to build new barracks and family housing. The bill expands access and significantly reduces the cost of childcare for military families. It makes it easier for military spouses to find jobs when servicemembers transfer stations.

“Finally, it improves the quality of military healthcare, especially mental health services for servicemembers and their families.”

U.S. Rep. Dale Strong of Huntsville, who also sits on the Armed Services Committee, agreed with his colleague on the need to pass the bill this year.

The FY24 NDAA supports service members and their families, and prioritizes military readiness. I urge my colleagues to pass this bill, it is crucial to our national defense! 🇺🇸

— Dale W. Strong (@RepDaleStrong) July 13, 2023

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on Twitter @Yaffee