Chairman McKeon Statement on Final Passage of H.R. 4310 the National Defense Authorization Act
Chairman McKeon Statement on Final Passage of H.R. 4310 the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013
WASHINGTON – The House of Representatives passed H.R. 4310 the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 by 299-120. House Armed Services Committee Chairman Howard P. “Buck” McKeon gave the following statement:
“This year’s defense authorization bill helps meet my priorities as chairman: resolve sequestration, restore strategy and sanity to the defense budget, and rebuild our military after a decade of war.
“In an era of austerity, it is critical that we carefully allocate every penny that goes to the Defense Department. This bill mandates fiscal responsibility within the Department of Defense, through sound fiscal stewardship, careful prioritization of resources, and reforming the way the Pentagon interacts with the defense industrial base. We’ve taken steps to ensure that competition is promoted for government contracts, worked to ease stresses on small businesses seeking to do business with the Armed Forces, and evaluated the military’s supply chains for weaknesses.
“The bill also postures our Armed Forces for potential future threats. Despite a tough fiscal environment, we have provided our Armed Forces with the tools they need to win the war today and deter against the wars of tomorrow.
“I am particularly proud of the fact that this bipartisan bill honors the service of our military personnel, veterans and their families. We have kept faith with our all-volunteer military, shielding our troops and veterans from inflated health care and retirement fees. They paid for those benefits with their service, and I am proud that we were able to protect our wartime military from unfair fiscal burdens.
“The FY13 NDAA would not have been possible without the partnership and leadership of my friend, Ranking Member Adam Smith. I am also particularly grateful to our subcommittee chairmen, all the Committee members and our staff for their diligent efforts on behalf of the men and women of our armed services.”
