Rep. Loudermilk (R-GA) issued the following statement after voting for legislation to support our military and their families:
“My wife and I raised three young children while I served in the Air Force; I know what a challenge it is to provide for a family on military pay. We could never pay our service members enough for the sacrifice they make, but the pay raise in this bill is a step in the right direction. Our military has been overlooked for far too long. Military equipment has been in disrepair due to under-funding, and military families have been struggling to cope with the rising cost of living. Our service members deserve better."
“The National Defense Authorization Act provides a much-deserved pay raise for service members, cuts needless red tape and regulations, and goes a long way toward restoring funding for America’s Armed Forces. I was proud to cast my vote in favor of our service men and women.”
Background
• For more than half a century, the National Defense Authorization Act has been fundamental to Congress’ constitutional obligation to “provide for the common defense.”
• H.R.2810 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 continues this obligation to our service members.
• Our nation’s military has been severely underfunded, due to years of budget cuts that have reduced our military budget by nearly a quarter.
• FY18’s NDAA continues its reform of the Department of Defense.
• This legislation provides the men and women serving in our military around the world and at home much needed resources to be successful.
• Establishes a pay raise (2.4%) for our troops, which they are entitled to by law, and protects that annual raise from being cut by this or future administrations.
• Prohibits the closing of several veteran medical treatment facilities outside of the U.S.
• Supports and strengthens current efforts to eliminate the Islamic state from Iraq and Syria.
• Re-establishes our military’s readiness and global proficiency.
• Provides for missile defense to protect our homeland from foreign nuclear threats.
• Modernizes and builds our naval and air forces to respond to new and emerging threats, like N. Korea and Iran.
• Reforms the DOD procurement system and implements an audit of the DOD.
