Statement on Passage of NDAA

Statement

Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT) released the following statement following the passage of the FY2012 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA):

"I was very pleased to participate in the Senate's passage of the FY2012 National Defense Authorization Act tonight. There is no more fundamental responsibility for government than to provide for the common defense, and passing the annual defense authorization act is an essential part of that responsibility for the U.S. Senate. This bill has been passed every single year since 1961 with overwhelming bipartisan support, and I am grateful that we were able to continue that tradition tonight under the leadership of Chairman Levin and Ranking Member McCain.

"I believe we had a productive debate on the floor on a variety of issues vital to our national defense. The Senate's NDAA passed tonight includes a number of policy provisions, including a bipartisan compromise on military detention of captured terrorists and tough new sanctions on the Central Bank of Iran. These measures represent significant steps forward in ensuring the security of the United States and our allies, sending clear signals that we are serious about protecting our people and confronting threats to international peace.

"The NDAA also reflects some of the tough decisions we face as a result of the defense budget cuts enacted in the Budget Control Act. But the cuts reflected in this bill are small compared to what may come. I am deeply concerned--as I believe all Americans should be--about the cuts that are now scheduled to take place, because of the failure of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction. The automatic cuts known as "sequestration" will do significant damage to our national security if they are implemented. I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure we develop a new approach to deficit reduction that will help ensure that we get our fiscal house in order while sparing further cuts to America's defense."

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