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Bice Statement on Passage of National Defense Authorization Act

September 24, 2021

Washington, D.C. – Rep. Stephanie Bice (OK-05) released the following statement after passage of H.R. 4350, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022.

"I’m proud of the work my HASC colleagues and I have put into the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act that passed last night. Properly funding our military servicemen and women to defend our country and its allies must still take precedence. No bill is perfect, and I anticipate further negotiations to take place as this legislation moves through the process toward final passage. During this time, I will advocate for items of concern to be removed or modified.

Following the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan and the reclamation of that country by Taliban and ISIS, we must continue to invest in the technology, education and training necessary to keep the American warfighter at the ready. The Biden Administration must also be held accountable for its lack of action in Afghanistan, and this legislation does that.

But we must also see that the mental health and family needs of our soldiers are properly met, and I’m pleased that this legislation includes amendments that I put forth, including the bipartisan Protecting Military Families with Disabilities Act amendment and the mental health and suicide prevention amendment. While it is Congress’ duty to provide what our soldiers need to do their jobs, we must also properly support our servicemembers and their families when they return home."

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