Conference Report on H.R. National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019
Floor Speech
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Mrs. MURPHY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, as a former DOD employee, I know our men and women in uniform must have the authorities and resources to get the job done. They must be well equipped in order to deter and defeat adversaries. That is why I strongly urge my colleagues to pass the National Defense Authorization Act.
I thank Chairman Thornberry and Ranking Member Smith for their leadership on this bipartisan bill. As a member of the Armed Services Committee and of the conference committee that reconciled the House and Senate versions of the bill, I am honored to have played a role in crafting this final product.
We must fight for our servicemembers as hard as they have fought for us. We must give them the tools they need to succeed not only on the battlefield, but also once they leave the service.
Our military produces remarkably talented and well-trained individuals, but too many of these warriors struggle to transition to the civilian world. That is why I am so pleased that the core of my bill, the BATTLE for Servicemembers Act, was included in the NDAA. This provision improves DOD's Transition Assistance Program, which helps departing servicemembers prepare for life after the military.
Specifically, my provision ensures departing servicemembers take a specialized 2-day course to prepare them to attend college, learn a trade, or start a small business. These targeted courses are optional under current law, and, as a result, few servicemembers can take advantage of them. I am hopeful my provision will lead to increased participation in these courses so that more men and women in our military will be prepared to make a successful transition to civilian life.
I am also proud the NDAA includes the full text of my bill to modernize SBA's microloan program, which provides small-dollar loans to aspiring and existing entrepreneurs, including veteran entrepreneurs.
I urge my colleagues on both sides to support this bill.
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