Why I Voted No on the Ndaa

Floor Speech

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Mr. NICKEL. Mr. Speaker, America's national defense has historically been a source of bipartisan agreement, not a battleground for divisive, extreme partisan politics.

Unfortunately, House Republicans chose to use the NDAA to advance controversial and harmful amendments rather than work in a bipartisan way to bolster our national defense, strengthen our national security interests, and protect our servicemembers.

Through the amendment process, House Republicans inserted extreme anti-abortion, anti-LGBTQ, and anti-DEI amendments that infringe upon the rights of individuals, notably those who serve in our armed forces and their families, threaten their liberties, and undermine their principles of freedom and autonomy that they work every day to defend.

With these poison pills, I could not vote to advance this year's NDAA, as amended.

I will work tirelessly with my Senate counterparts and reasonable Republicans to ensure that damaging anti-abortion, anti-LGBTQ, and anti-DEI amendments are not included in the final text of this legislation.

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