By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
Thursday, October 22, President Barack H. Obama vetoed HR1735, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2016.
Congressman Bradley Byrne (R-AL) criticized the President’s action saying that Pres. Obama is putting politics over our military. Rep. Byrne said, “The NDAA has passed Congress and been signed into law with bipartisan support for each of the last 53 years. The NDAA sets the policy and authorizes spending for our nation’s military men and women.”
Congressman Gary Palmer (R-Hoover) said in his own statement, “With his veto, the President is not only placing our national security at risk by failing to authorize funding for our military, but is undermining our national security by demanding more domestic spending that further increases our national debt. As the Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Michael Mullen said, ‘The most significant threat to our national security is our debt.’”
US Senator Richard Shelby (R-Alabama) said, “Today, President Obama vetoed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) recently passed by Congress. I believe that t
his veto is irresponsible and further highlights that national security is not a priority for the Administration.”
Rep. Byrne said: “President Obama’s decision to veto the bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act is a slap in the face to all those who serve in our nation’s military. From Iraq to China to Russia to Iran to Afghanistan to Syria, our nation has never faced a wider range of threats, and it is reprehensible for our Commander-in-Chief to veto this critical defense bill over matters that have absolutely nothing to do with defense.”
Congressman Mike Rogers (R-Saks) said, “I am deeply disappointed, but not surprised that President Obama vetoed this bipartisan and critical piece of legislation, not for what was in it, but for what was not in it. The NDAA funds our troops and our national security, and the president should be ashamed of himself for playing political games with our brave men and women in uniform and our country’s safety.”
Representative Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) said, “The National Defense Authorization Act has passed and been signed by presidents 53 years in a row, making it a rare display of bipartisanship. Yet, today, America’s Commander-in-Chief put politics above country by vetoing this key bipartisan defense authorization bill in a sordid effort to coerce Congress into spending more money on his larger domestic political agenda.”
Rep. Palmer said, “The NDAA was passed with overwhelming bipartisan majorities in both the House and Senate, and I support overriding the President’s veto.”
Congressman Byrne said, “If the President wants to have a debate about increasing spending on non-defense programs, then I welcome that debate. But we shouldn’t hold our military and their families hostage in the process. My colleagues and I in the House are already working to ensure we can override the President’s veto and stand strong with our nation’s military.”
Rep. Brooks said, “I hope Congress can muster the additional support needed to override President Obama’s veto so America’s national security will not be jeopardized for reasons wholly unrelated to the NDAA. The dangers and stakes are too high to play political games with America’s national security.”
The NDAA passed the House by a vote of 270 to 156, with 37 Democrats voting in favor. The NDAA passed in the Senate 70 to 27, with 21 Democrats voting in favor of the bill.
Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio) said in his own statement, “By placing domestic politics ahead of our troops, President Obama has put America’s national security at risk. This indefensible veto blocks pay and vital tools for our troops while Iranian terrorists prepare to gain billions under the president’s nuclear deal. Congress should not allow this veto to stand.”
