Hoyer Statement on Fiscal Year 2017 National Defense Authorization Act

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-5) released the following statement after voting last night against H.R. 4909, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017:

“I have been a strong supporter of bipartisan defense authorization bills passed by Congress for more than three decades, but last night I voted against a partisan defense authorization bill that is simply bad for our nation’s defense. The authorization bill included a budget gimmick that takes $18 billion from a war account and shifts that money to pay for projects not requested by the Pentagon. The bill included a provision to overturn President Obama’s executive order extending anti-discrimination protections for LGBT employees of federal contractors.

“I am proud to represent several military installations in the Fifth District including Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Indian Head Naval Surface Warfare Center, and Webster Field, which all play an important role in our country’s military readiness. But this bill doesn’t sufficiently fund research and defense technology which is critical for these Fifth District military installations.

“Our hard working military men and women and civilian defense employees deserve better than this bill that undermines our national security. I urge House Republicans to work with Democrats on a bipartisan bill that will provide our defense communities with the tools and resources they need to carry out their missions and keep our homeland safe and secure