Flores Votes to Responsibly Fund America's National Security and Troops

Statement

U.S. Representative Bill Flores (R-Texas) issued the following statement regarding the House passage of the Conference Report to the Fiscal Year 2016 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA):

"The federal government's primary responsibility under the Constitution is to provide for the common defense to protect all Americans. With the bipartisan passage of the Conference Report to the National Defense Authorization Act, we provide our military with the resources and the authority they need to fight and defeat the threats that exist in the world today. This includes authorizing post commanders to permit members of the Armed Forces to carry firearms at Department of Defense installations, reserve centers and recruiting centers in order to protect themselves.

"The NDAA conference report provides for a strong national defense in a fiscally responsible manner that reforms procurement and cuts unnecessary spending. It provides America's uniformed men and women and their families with the care and support they need to serve our country. I was pleased to see that my bill to enhance the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) was included in the conference report. This language offers our servicemembers alternative training paths to better suit their intentions and provide them with the tools for a successful transition into civilian life. I remain committed to supporting efforts to strengthen our national defense and to support our military men and women who are committed to protecting America.

"This conference report passed with strong bipartisan majorities in the House and Senate. Unfortunately, however, President Obama has threatened to veto it because of his desire to hold military spending hostage in order to spend more hardworking American taxpayer dollars on his failed domestic programs and out-of-control Washington bureaucrats. His veto threat fails to reflect two critical issues -- first, the increased national security risks faced by Americans around the globe arising from his growing list of tragic foreign policy blunders, and second, the debt and fiscal hangovers our nation continues to endure caused by federal spending sprees during his first two years in the White House. Despite his veto threat, bipartisan majorities in the House and Senate remain committed to fulfilling our government's national security needs."

The Conference Report to the Fiscal Year 2016 National Defense Authorization Act authorizes $515 billion in spending for base national defense and an additional $89.2 billion for Global War on Terror.

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