Rep. Randy Hultgren (D-IL) on Thursday expressed support for the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016.
The bill, which passed the House 270-156, authorizes necessary funding for the Department of Defense so service men and women have the tools and resources to defend the nation.
“One of Congress’ constitutional responsibilities is to provide for the common defense, and this bipartisan, bicameral legislation is our primary method to fulfill that responsibility,” Hultgren said. “As the world grows more dangerous and uncertain, this legislation ensures our nation’s armed forces are agile, efficient and ready. It provides care for our service men and women, and their families, through retirement plan access, housing assistance, and improved child care access.
"I saw first-hand on a recent in-depth Congressional delegation tour of the Guantanamo Bay prison that it is an important solution to housing the world’s most-hardened terrorists. This bill prohibits the transfer of detainees from Guantanamo Bay to the United States and limits transfers to foreign countries. I am glad both sides of the aisle and Capitol worked together to defend our nation well, and I look forward to the president’s signature."
Some of the goals of the bill include funding levels that are consistent with House budget and equal to the president’s request of $611.9 billion, including $515 billion for national defense and $89.2 billion for Overseas Contingency Operations; making reforms to the acquisition system that improves accountability, simplifies the chain of command and streamlines the bureaucracy; provides a retirement plan to 83 percent of service men and women currently not eligible through a Thrift Savings Plan; preserves basic allowance for housing for dual-military couples; and supports a 20 percent strategic reduction to headquarters’ budgets and personnel.
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