Representative Kevin Hern (OK-01) released the following statement after voting against the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

“Recent actions in the South China Sea, the Middle East, and North Korea prove the need for an unparalleled American military,” said Rep. Hern. “We are the target of numerous dangerous rising world powers. If countries like China and Russia continue expanding their military and nuclear capabilities unchecked, all Americans – the principles of democracy, even – are in danger. With this in mind, we should use the National Defense Authorization Act to strengthen our military, give them the resources, equipment, and training they need to remain competitive on the world stage. Unfortunately, that’s not the bill we were presented with tonight.

“In the name of ‘urgency’ over 700 amendments were clumped into a handful of en bloc amendments by Democratic leadership, giving us no route to eliminate individual policy points detrimental to the legislation while keeping the good ones. Some of the problematic amendments include an attack on the President’s constitutional authority as the Commander-in-Chief and a prohibition on nuclear testing. This ‘urgent’ process comes after two weeks of legislative recess and months of Congressional inaction. If urgency was truly a consideration, we’ve had plenty of time work through this bill and do our due diligence on these amendments.”

Rep. Hern continued, “Senator Inhofe has put a lot of work into the Senate NDAA that passed recently and I am fully confident that he will be able to negotiate with House Democrats to find an agreement that can make it to the President’s desk.”

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