HOUSE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE MEMBER REP. SCOTT DESJARLAIS CHEERS BIPARTISAN DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Scott DesJarlais, M.D., a member of the House Armed Services Committee, cheered passage of the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), after a long period of negotiations among the House and Senate, Democrats and Republicans, to reverse harmful military cuts under the Obama Administration.

            “We have achieved a defense bill that includes a big pay raise for our troops, the Space Force we need to out-class Russia and China, and allowances for a border wall. We prevented bad ideas like open borders, de-nuclearization and Guantanamo closure from making their way into legislation.” said Rep. DesJarlais (TN-04), a member of the Subcommittees on Strategic Forces, as well as Emerging Threats and Capabilities.

            In committee hearings, the Congressman has supported U.S. deployment of low-yield nuclear weapons, without which Russia could threaten the U.S. and allies.  As Chairman of the Range and Testing Center Caucus, he supports hypersonic weapons development, taking place at Arnold Air Force Base near his district. Because of his work, the NDAA that passed the House of Representatives today includes deployment and hypersonic provisions. The President has pledged to sign it into law.  

            Rep. DesJarlais also touted a 3.1 percent pay raise for troops, funding to repair military bases, after natural disasters, and reforms to Department of Defense acquisitions to save taxpayer money. “Providing for the national defense is the most important responsibility of Congress. I’m proud I could help Tennesseans serving in our Armed Forces to better protect our country from serious threats around the world.

            “Rebuilding the military fulfills another promise President Trump made to the American people.”

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