Casten Statement on National Defense Authorization Act of 2024
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Congressman Sean Casten released the following statement after voting against the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2024:
“The security and defense of the United States should not be partisan. Our service members and their families sacrifice so we can enjoy our freedoms, and we must do everything we can to ensure they are supported and have the resources they need to succeed. That’s been the goal of every NDAA since I arrived in Congress, and why I had voted for it every prior year.
“Unfortunately, this year, House Republicans turned the NDAA into an attack on fundamental American ideals. Their proposal attacks women’s freedom to make their own health care decisions, targets the rights of LGBTQ+ servicemembers, rolls back the military’s climate resilience efforts, and prioritizes far-right extremism over the needs of our military.
“When Speaker McCarthy lets the adults back into the room and Congress considers a legitimate NDAA that addresses our national security and defense needs, I will support that legislation. But, I cannot in good conscience vote for this bill in its current form.”
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