Congresswoman Barbara Lee Slams Irresponsible, Wasteful National Defense Authorization Act

Statement

Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement on the FY2019 National Defense Authorization Act passed by the U.S. House of Representatives:

"The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is an opportunity for Congress to take a hard look at our national security priorities and ensure that our voice is heard on matters of war and peace. Sadly, once again, Congress has chosen to squander this chance and kick the can down the road.

"The FY19 NDAA does nothing to address wasteful Pentagon spending, authorizing $717 billion in defense spending. It fails to compel any debate or vote in Congress on our endless wars. And it continues the shameful practice of budgeting our wars off the books with the unaccountable Overseas Contingency Operation (OCO) slush fund.

"However, I am pleased that four amendments that I supported were included in the final bill. The first amendment explicitly prohibits the use of this legislation to justify war with North Korea, fulfilling the will of the American people who have made it clear that they do not want us to engage in regime change on the Korean Peninsula. My second amendment will help bring much needed transparency to Pentagon war spending by requiring the Comptroller General to update Congress on how OCO funds are being used. The third amendment, which I cosponsored with Congressman Burgess, requires greater information on the long-delayed Pentagon Audit by requiring the Department of Defense to rank all military departments in order of audit readiness. My last amendment mandates a report from the Secretary of Defense on the progress of the United States-Afghan Compact, so that we can finally begin to untangle ourselves from this seventeen-year-old war.

"While these amendments are a positive step towards greater transparency, this NDAA falls far short of our obligations to the American people. I am disappointed that my efforts to compel a debate on the 2001 and 2002 AUMFs were silenced by the Rules Committee. American families -- and our service members -- deserve a Congress willing to debate and vote on these vital national security issues. But instead of a blueprint for peace and security, this NDAA continues the practice of endless war with no input or oversight from our congressional leaders."

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