Larsen Votes to Support Servicemembers, Military Families and Military Communities

Press Release

Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) today voted for the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Rep. Larsen successfully secured provisions to protect U.S. national security and support women and men in the military and their families.

"The NDAA makes important investments to strengthen military readiness and support servicemembers and their families," said Larsen.

Addresses Trump-Induced Crisis at Southern Border

The administration cannot continue to use military funding as a piggy bank for building an ineffective wall on the Southern border. The NDAA prohibits the use of military funding for the construction of a wall, barrier or fence along the Southern border and prohibits reprogramming funds into the counter-drug account, a ploy the administration has previously used to fund border wall construction. Additionally, the bill prohibits the Department of Defense (DoD) from using funding to house children forcibly separated from their families at the border.

Supports Military Families

The NDAA includes provisions benefiting Northwest Washington's military families, installations and the surrounding communities.

The NDAA provides a 3.1 percent pay raise for servicemembers eliminates the "widow's tax," and increases occupational support to military spouses.

Supports Military Communities

The NDAA provides funding to clean up PFOS/PFOA contaminated drinking water at or near military bases and authorizes funding for schools serving military students like Oak Harbor School District.

The bill also requires the Environmental Protection Agency to list PFAS chemicals as hazardous substances.

Accelerates Closure of Guantanamo Bay

The NDAA makes progress towards closing the detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The bill includes provisions that ban any new detainees from being placed in Guantanamo Bay and denies the president's request for a new permanent detainee complex.

Promotes Smart Nuclear Policies

The NDAA prohibits the development of destabilizing and unnecessary low-yield nuclear weapons and increases funding to protect secure command and control in the event of a nuclear crisis.

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