After voting for the revised National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) on Tuesday, U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) said it is vital that Congress push the legislation forward to provide a blueprint for the military and the Department of Defense.
“We can never forget the sacrifices our service members make on our nation’s behalf every single day,” Ernst said. “Congress must remain united in this effort to ensure our troops have the necessary resources and support they deserve.”
The NDAA includes reforms and resources aimed at strengthening national security and ensuring military members have the necessary tools to succeed. The bill also concentrates on sexual-assault prevention and increasing victim support.
“I also am pleased that the NDAA includes several of my provisions, including improvements to the VA’s outreach for its peer-to-peer support program to help veterans suffering from mental health issues, an extension to the National Guard State Partnership Program, a measure to give the president the authority to directly arm the Kurdish Peshmerga with the weapons and equipment needed to fight against ISIS, and a provision to ensure that federal programs are efficient, on budget and on schedule, among many other critical measures,” Ernst said.