Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R- ND), member of the Armed Services Committee, joined Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) and 21 Senate colleagues in sending a letter to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) demanding the Senate vote on the FY2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) before the end of September. The U.S. House of Representatives approved its version of the legislation in July, with a broad, bipartisan majority voting in support. The letter, sent Thursday, invoked the words of George Washington while calling on Leader Schumer to schedule a vote on the NDAA in time for an open Senate amendment process to take place. Among other priorities, the legislation funds military technology, strengthens capabilities, and delivers a 4.6 percent pay raise to America’s service members.
“At the founding of our nation, then-General George Washington penned, “When the civil and military powers cooperate, and afford mutual aid to each other there can be little doubt of things going well. Two centuries later, that still rings true. Yet should this body fail in its top Constitutional responsibility of providing for a common defense, our armed services will be left directionless, lack stable funding, and be devoid of civilian Congressional oversight,” wrote the senators.
“Members of the House passed their NDAA on July 14th, by a vote of 329 – 101,” continued the senators. “For the bill to go to conference and make it to President Biden’s desk, our colleagues must have the opportunity to debate the Senate version with an open amendment process. As such, we the undersigned respectfully request that you call the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 to the Senate floor before the conclusion of the September work period.
Joining Senators Cramer and Tuberville are U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Mike Braun (R-IN), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Mike Lee (R-UT), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Jim Risch (R-ID), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Rick Scott (R-FL), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Roger Wicker (R-MS), and Todd Young (R-IN).
Click here to read the letter.