Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Today, Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) released the following statement after voting against the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2025 after numerous partisan amendments were added to the bill yesterday evening.

“Congress must fulfill its duty of reauthorizing defense spending every year to support the capability and readiness of our service members – the heart of America’s defense at home and abroad. However, after numerous partisan amendments were added by the majority party yesterday to this year’s NDAA, I could not, in good faith, vote for its passage.

“Last month, the House Armed Services Committee passed a version of the NDAA with overwhelmingly bipartisan support – because Democrats and Republicans worked together to craft a bill that responded holistically to the most pressing needs of our service members and their families.

“While the version of the bill the House voted on today included those core critical investments in pay, benefits, childcare, and housing for our servicemembers, as well as my Community Project Funding Request for a new facility at Dover Air Force Base, it also included shameful provisions aimed at restricting reproductive health care, attacking LGBTQ+ service members, and removing diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. A more diverse military is a stronger military, but the bill put forth today severely failed to capture that.

“Traditionally a bipartisan compromise, the NDAA has become yet another vehicle for House Republicans to play politics. I urge House leadership to bring a clean version of the NDAA to the floor immediately – one that upholds our obligation to protect our service members, strengthen our defense, and protect our national security.”

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