Cole Applauds House Passage of FY2023 NDAA

Press Release

Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04), a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 7900, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023. The legislation authorizes funding for our nation's military personnel, readiness and operations and includes provisions that support the missions at Tinker Air Force Base in Midwest City and Fort Sill in Lawton, which are both located in the Fourth District of Oklahoma. Cole supported the legislation.

"For the second year in a row, the House Armed Services Committee rejected President Biden's proposed defense budget number and authorized a better, higher number to more adequately fund our national defense. If enacted, the increased funding authorized in this bill would go a long way toward ensuring that America's military is ready to confront any challenge and rightly provide our service members with the largest pay raise in history at 4.6 percent. Although there is more work ahead to arrive at a final NDAA that can reach the president's desk, I am encouraged by the House's starting position, which sends a clear message that, in this dangerous world, America is committed to providing for our national defense as well as offering our allies the support they need to protect themselves.

"However, while the advancement of the NDAA in the House is promising, this bipartisan approach must also be reflected in the eventual bicameral negotiations for a final bill as well as in the appropriations process. As a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, I am committed to championing increases that reflect the funding requirements of the Department of Defense."

While managing the rule for the consideration of the legislation, Cole made extensive remarks.

Today's rule covers several major items. The first item I'll discuss, H.R. 7900, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023, is of the greatest importance to the nation and to the world.

For 61 years in a row, the NDAA have become law. As I remined my colleagues on the Rules Committee yesterday, this record of achievement has only been possible because of the immense cooperation from both sides of the aisle, and it's a testament to what we can accomplish when we focus on our shared goals as a nation.

Working together, Democrats and Republicans on the Armed Services Committee produced a bipartisan product. I applaud Chairman Smith, Ranking Member Rogers and all the members of the Armed Services Committee for their efforts.

Madam Speaker, it is no secret that the world has become a more dangerous place in recent years. Last year saw the Taliban -- a corrupt and militant organization known for supporting and providing sanctuary to terrorists -- complete its takeover of Afghanistan. Earlier this year, the world was shocked by Vladimir Putin's brazen, unprovoked and indeed outright criminal invasion of Ukraine, Russia's democratic neighbor to the west. Communist China continues its history of aggression in Asia and the Pacific Rim, including increasingly aggressive acts toward Taiwan. North Korea has continued its aggressive posturing toward the United States and our democratic allies in Asia, and Iran continues its long march toward becoming a nuclear state.

It is more important than ever that Congress speaks with one voice when it comes to setting our national defense policy and funding priorities each year so that we can ensure we counter aggressive actors and offer our allies the support they need to protect themselves.

One of the most important things accomplished in this year's NDAA is actually what it did not do: for the second year in a row, the Armed Services Committee rejected President Biden's proposed defense budget number and authorized a better, higher number to ensure that our national defense is properly funded. Indeed, President Biden's first two budget proposals looked set to continue the chronic underfunding of the Obama-Biden years, during which time our military readiness declined and our rivals on the international stage were empowered.

The increased funding in this bill will go a long way toward ensuring that America's military is ready to confront any challenge. And it will ensure that our armed services personnel receive a 4.6 percent pay raise, the largest in history, with additional pay bonuses to personnel who make the least to offset the inflation caused by this Administration's policies.

On the whole, I am proud to support this legislation, and I encourage the entire House to support this measure and send it on to the Senate.

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