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Amodei Votes to Override Veto of Critical Defense Legislation

December 28, 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:Logan Tucker, 202-225-6155

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Mark Amodei (NV-02) today released the following statement after voting to override a presidential veto of the National Defense Authorization Act:

"I have read the President's veto message and I share many of the concerns contained therein. I have also read the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and have compared the President's concerns with the contents of the Conference Report between the House and the Senate.

"First and foremost, if there is not an NDAA bill – which sustaining the President's veto would result in – there will be significant disruptions to military training in Nevada at NAS Fallon and Nevada Test and Training Range, including Creech and Nellis Air Force Bases.

"Further, if the veto is sustained, any new NDAA bill would be crafted in a legislative environment where the White House and both chambers of Congress are potentially in Democratic control. That's not a win in view of some present strong points in the existing NDAA, which includes funding to:

  • Provide a 3% pay raise to our troops, authorize extra pay for troops in combat zones, and support their families with the care and benefits they deserve;
  • Ensure the DOD maintains a 30-day supply of PPE, ensure our troops have the diagnostic equipment and testing they need, and provide health benefits to Guardsmen supporting the COVID-19 response. This includes benefits for the Nevada National Guardsmen, who are playing a significant role in the COVID-19 fight in Nevada;
  • Establish the Pacific Deterrence Initiative to fund emergent technologies, support our allies, and deter China. This authorizes several new provisions to counter Chinese industrial espionage, support Hong Kong and Taiwan, and protect our defense supply chain;
  • Maintain prohibitions on the transfer of detainees from Guantanamo Bay; and
  • Continue to support missile defense cooperation with Israel through the United States-Israel Assistance Act.

"I agree with all of the goals to bring more accountability and less monopoly to social media companies insisted on by the President, however, I respectfully disagree with addressing it in the NDAA. Too often, germaneness rules are ignored, and if those standards are to mean anything, we must be leaders in getting it to that point.

"Further, while the military construction issue is of interest, continued Southern border wall construction funding in the recently signed omnibus spending bill is $1.375 billion. Construction on the wall today has already completed 438.3 miles. At present cost, this $1.375 billion will provide funding for another 56 miles of wall construction. That construction absorption rate should last well into 2021. Meaning, funding to finish the remaining portion of the wall will be an issue for the 117th or 118th Congresses, so let's see what happens in Georgia next week.

"In my analysis, the benefits and the policy wins in the present Conference Report already passed by Congress significantly outweigh the concerns raised in the Administration's veto message."

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