Hoyer Statement on House Passage of the FY2022 National Defense Authorization Act

Statement

House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement tonight after the House passed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022:

"Tonight, the House came together in a bipartisan fashion to reauthorize critical defense programs for next year and ensure that our troops have the tools they need to carry out their missions safely and the pay raise they deserve. I am particularly glad that this bill includes changes to make it easier to prosecute sexual assault and harassment that occurs in our military. Those who serve ought to have every protection and recourse so that they can perform their duty and carry out their missions safely and without fear of these crimes. Additionally, this bill also includes strong provisions to promote greater diversity and inclusivity in our armed forces and to help our country address the threat climate change poses to America's national security interests.

"This legislation represents a compromise that achieves major goals and yields benefits both to those who wear the uniform and to the nation they serve. It reflects bipartisan and bicameral agreement across multiple committees. Chairman Smith and the Members of the Armed Services Committee deserve great credit for the hard work they put into this legislation over many months, working closely with the Minority, with the Senate, and with the Pentagon to ensure that it reflects a broad consensus about how to advance our strategic defense interests while delivering important benefits to those who serve. Now, it moves to the Senate, and I hope that it can be approved and sent to President Biden's desk without delay."

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