Price National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Amendments Pass U.S. House

Press Release

Today, two amendments offered by Congressman David Price (D-NC) were passed by the U.S. House of Representatives when it approved the NDAA by a vote of 220-197. One amendment would create a grant program to establish, improve, or expand world language programs in certain K-12 schools, and the other would ensure the President reports to Congress on the status of vital military and diplomatic communication and deconfliction channels with Iran. More information about each amendment is below.

World Languages Amendment

The world languages amendment would create a grant program to establish, improve, or expand world language programs in Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools and in local education agencies (LEAs) that host a Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) program to bolster our national and economic security.

The bipartisan amendment was cosponsored by Representatives Don Young (R-AK), Gil Cisneros (D-CA), Rick Larsen (D-WA), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Jim Langevin (D-RI), and Seth Moulton (D-MA).

On passage of the amendment, Congressman Price released the following statement:

"The United States is lagging behind other nations in language proficiency, which threatens our ability to succeed in global military and diplomatic missions," said Congressman David Price. "I introduced this bipartisan amendment to prepare elementary and secondary school students for future service by focusing a majority of the grant funding on languages considered critical by the Department of Defense. I thank my colleagues for helping pass this important amendment."

The amendment was inspired by the World Language Advancement and Readiness Act, introduced by Rep. Price in February 2019. The text of the amendment can be found here.

Iran Deconfliction Amendment

Congressman Price's (D-NC) Iran deconfliction amendment would assert Congressional oversight and ensure the President reports to Congress on the status of vital military and diplomatic communication and deconfliction channels that must be in place to prevent miscalculation or conflict between our two nations.

The amendment was cosponsored by Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Gerry Connolly (D-VA), John Yarmuth (D-KY), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR).

On passage of the amendment, Congressman Price released the following statement:

"Since President Trump's irresponsible decision to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal, the administration has eliminated diplomatic channels of communication, leaving the door open for a miscalculation," said Congressman Price. "Just last month, President Trump came dangerously close to conducting a military strike on Iran in response to a downed American surveillance drone."

"The United States must not be drawn into an unnecessary war with Iran. That's why I introduced an amendment to this year's defense bill that would ensure Congress receives reports from the Department of Defense on the status of diplomatic communications and deconfliction channels. I'm glad this critical amendment was adopted, and I continue to encourage the administration to return to level-headed diplomacy with Iran."

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