John Kline Leading Bipartisan Effort to Draft Annual National Defense Bill

Press Release

Minnesota Congressman John Kline will champion several important initiatives for our veterans, troops, and their families Wednesday when the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) will review and finalize the annual national defense bill. The Fiscal Year 2016 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), H.R. 1735, serves as the budgetary blueprint for the Pentagon.

In addition to ensuring Congress keeps promises made to troops and veterans, the NDAA will also protect American taxpayers by cutting waste, reallocating resources to more urgent priorities, and making long-needed reforms to ensure that America gets the most defense for its dollar. The bipartisan legislation will be reviewed by HASC tomorrow, and is scheduled to be considered by the U.S. House of Representatives in May.

"Providing for the common defense of the United State while ensuring the federal government keeps faith with our troops and veterans is one of the most bipartisan things we do in Congress," said Kline, a 25-year veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and senior member of HASC whose wife is a retired Army nurse and son has served three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. "I am pleased to help champion provisions in the national defense bill that provide support for our troops in harm's way overseas, and ensure they receive our full care and assistance needed when they return home to their families."

Kline's Yellow Ribbon reintegration legislation that provides for a stronger and more resilient ready reserve component which has proven effective in preparing veterans and their families for safe, healthy, and successful reintegration will again be included in the NDAA. Kline is offering a provision that provides greater strength and flexibility with the Yellow Ribbon program to ensure reintegration for our Guard units.

In his continued pursuit of answers about the U.S. Embassy evacuation in Yemen and his resolve for needed oversight, Kline is championing legislation that would require the Pentagon to notify Congress when evacuations include the destruction of U.S. weapons. Recently, in hearings and by phone, Kline has sought explanation about the embassy evacuation from General Joseph Dunford, Commandant of the Marine Corps. He also has sought answers from Secretary of State John Kerry and then-Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel.

Recognizing it should continue to be a top priority to provide our troops with the necessary protection and combat rescue support to defeat ISIS in Iraq and Syria, Kline introduced a provision to assert our stated goal that the Administration should not implement arbitrary self-imposed restrictions on the amount of protection available to our military forces forward deployed. Kline's legislation establishes as policy that greater flexibility should be provided for the Pentagon to protect Americans conducting military operations in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.

Administration should not self-impose arbitrary restrictions and guidelines. Kline's legislation sets policy that would provide greater flexibility for the Pentagon so it could protect Americans conducting offensive operations in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.

In addition to serving on the House Armed Services Committee, Kline serves as the Chairman of the House Education and the Workforce Committee. In 2012, AMVETS honored Kline with the prestigious "Silver Helmet Award" for his "loyalty and dedication to America's veterans." In 2008, the National Guard Bureau honored Kline with one of its highest civilian awards, a "Heritage Painting" for his efforts on behalf of all veterans. Kline and his wife, Vicky, live in Burnsville.

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