Rep. Williams Statement on House Passage of NDAA

Press Release

Congressman Roger Williams (R-TX-25), a representative of Fort Hood, today released the following statement after voting in favor of the William Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2021:

"Today the House continued our bipartisan tradition of passing a NDAA that provides for our men and women in uniform. This legislation offers our troops a well-deserved pay raise and supports their families, along with ensuring the Department of Defense has the resources to effectively respond to and combat the COVID-19 pandemic. The FY21 defense bill takes deliberate steps to confront China's growing aggression and global influence, while bolstering America's nuclear armament and weapons modernization.

"This legislation is far from perfect, and while there are elements that I disagree with, I see no benefit in holding up this process until we reach a unanimous decision. For the outstanding issues that remain, I am committed to addressing them with the Senate during conference. Congress should commit itself to providing predictable funding for the Department of Defense on time, every year. Our warfighters deserve the very best and we must ensure they remain the most modern, ready and lethal organization in the world. The servicemen and women I represent on Fort Hood and around the globe are the best among us, and I will always be their greatest champion in the U.S. House of Representatives."

The NDAA adheres to last year's bipartisan budget agreement and fully funds President Trump's budget request. That includes $740.5 billion total for National Defense Discretionary programs, including $130.6 billion for procurement of advanced weapons systems, an increase of $1.9 billion over the President's request, and $106.2 billion for Research Development Test and Evaluation, an increase of $475.5 million over the President's request.

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