By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
U.S. Representative Martha Roby (R) from Montgomery applauded Thursday’s House passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Rep. Roby said that the bill ensures that the military will proper support in the coming year. The annual bill authorizes funding for military programs and sets policy for the Department of Defense.
Representative Roby said, “Providing for the common defense is our fundamental duty as the Congress. I’m proud to represent two distinguished military installations in Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base in Montgomery and Fort Rucker in the Wiregrass. These installations and others like them around the world will be better able to prepare our men and women in uniform thanks to this year’s NDAA.”
Also on Thursday, House Armed Services Committee (HASC) Chairman Buck McKeon (R) announced that Rep. Roby will be transitioning onto the House Committee on Appropriations and will no longer serve on the House Armed Services Committee.
Chairman McKeon said in a written statement, “Last January, when it came time to do our subcommittee assignments, Martha was an obvious choice. As Chairman of the Oversight and Investigations subcommittee, she wasted no time becoming one of my most trusted and valued members. I entrusted her with critical assignments, including assessing how the Department of Defense responded to the Benghazi terrorist attacks and other important ongoing matters. With that said, I am very pleased to hear her talents will be put to good use on the Appropriations Committee. I know the people of Alabama appreciate her as much as I do, and I know Appropriations will find her national security prowess as valuable as I do.”
As the Chair of the Oversight and Investigations subcommittee, Rep. Roby held hearings on: the future of women and girls in Afghanistan and on better posturing of military assets to respond to global threats, such as the terrorist attacks in Benghazi, Libya last year. Yesterday’s NDAA authorizes funding and gives special guidance to these important areas of focus.
The NDAA was passed after negotiators from the House and Senate reached a bipartisan agreement on a final version. The House version of the NDAA in June was passed back in June.
The annual bill authorizes funding for military programs and sets policies for the Department of Defense. This is the 52nd consecutive NDAA to be passed by Congress. The budget deal passed late on Thursday means that defense will be spared from a second round of crippling sequestration cuts that would have slowed new weapons programs and led to a further hollowing out of American military capabilities.
The bill passed the House in a bipartisan vote of 350 to 69.
To see a video of Rep. Roby’s speech on the House floor supporting the NDAA’s passage go here:
