House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) appointed 44 Republican leaders of the House of Representatives on Friday to serve on a bipartisan conference committee to produce a final National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
U.S. Reps. Mac Thornberry (R-TX), Michael Turner (R-OH), Bill Shuster (R-PA), Joe Heck (R-NV), Vicky Hartzler (R-MO), Elise Stefanik (R-NY), Lee Zeldin (R-NY), Michael McCaul (R-TX), Dan Donovan (R-NY), Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), Darrell Issa (R-CA), Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) and Lamar Smith (R-TX) were among those appointed to the conference committee.
“This legislation gives our military the tools and funding it needs to do its job and keep Americans safe,” Ryan said. “It also gives our men and women in uniform a well-deserved raise. If there’s anyone who deserves an increase in pay, it’s those who risk their lives every day for the safety of this country. I’m proud of the work done so far, and I look forward to sending this bill to the president’s desk.”
Shuster, named to the conference committee of the bill that will allocate more than $610 billion to the Department of Defense, said that the military “cannot absorb” more of the funding cuts proposed by President Barack Obama.
“I am honored to be named one of the chief negotiators in Congress on this crucial defense funding legislation,” Shuster, the chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said. “Now more than ever we need a strong military to destroy our enemy – radical Islamic terrorists. I will ensure that the measure sent to the president’s desk provides the funding needed to allow our armed forces to carry out their duty of protecting this great nation and its people from anyone that wants to harm us.”
Under a House-approved version of the NDAA, there would be a 2.1 percent increase in military pay, investments would be made in troop readiness programs, and another round of base realignment and closure (BRAC) proposed by the administration would be averted.
Stefanik, the vice chairwoman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness, said that she was honored to again be selected to serve on the bipartisan, bicameral conference committee.
“This legislation is critical to providing for our nation’s security and it’s important that our district and Fort Drum have a seat at the table during negotiations,” Stefanik said. “I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to secure a strong NDAA that gives our brave men and women in uniform the resources they need to keep us safe.”