Sherrill Blasts Hyper-Partisan Defense Bill, Votes “NO” on Final Passage
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11), former Navy helicopter pilot and member of the House Armed Services Committee, released the following statement after voting against the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act:
“Less than a month ago, my colleagues on the House Armed Services Committee and I passed a bipartisan defense bill that uplifted servicemembers and their families and invested in our nation’s military, economy and security for the future. We worked across the aisle to raise pay for service members, secure funding for Picatinny Arsenal, improve job opportunities for military spouses, expand access to child care, and make sure that servicewomen can get year-long supplies of contraceptives.
“But, true to form, Speaker Johnson gave Marjorie Taylor Greene and the MAGA extremists an entire wish list of culture-war attacks on women, LGTBQ+, Black, and Brown service members. They have passed a bill that will abandon our allies across the globe, including Ukraine, while playing right into the hands of dictators like Vladimir Putin. So with deep disappointment, I voted “no” on this year’s National Defense Authorization Act. I remain hopeful – for the sake of our service members and military families – that we can work towards a better national defense bill through a House-Senate conference committee.”
This week, Sherrill helped lead House Democrats’ opposition to Republican efforts to politicize the National Defense Authorization Act. She spoke about her amendment that would prevent future presidents from weaponizing the national guard, continued to fight for funding to Ukraine, and fought back against the GOP’s cheap shots to prevent women from serving in combat roles. She slammed House Speaker Mike Johnson for refusing to allow the House to consider any of her five amendments to protect reproductive rights for servicewomen. She also blasted MAGA attempts to ban the Department of Defense from covering travel costs for women who have to travel to receive an abortion.
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