[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 208 (Wednesday, December 9, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1122]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 6395, WILLIAM M. (MAC) THORNBERRY NATIONAL 
             DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021

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                               speech of

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 8, 2020

  Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the 
Conference Report on H.R. 6395, the National Defense Authorization Act 
for Fiscal Year 2021.
  I'd like to thank my colleague, Chairman Adam Smith, for his 
consistent efforts to include key House provisions in this year's NDAA 
conference report. I was very pleased that the provisions which the 
Congressional Black Caucus led that calls for the renaming of 
Confederate military bases made it into the final bill. There is a 
dangerous and hurtful legacy of white supremacy in this country, and 
there is no place for the memorialization of the historical figures 
that perpetuated it, especially on our military bases. I'm pleased that 
the CBC and House Democrats successfully kept this important provision 
in the final text of the bill.
  However, the FY 21 NDAA continues our legacy of wasteful military 
spending and investing in war rather than peace. This legislation 
provides $732 billion in discretionary spending, nearly the exact same 
number as last year's number, which was the largest number ever 
authorized.
  Especially as we fight back a catastrophic pandemic and public health 
crisis, Congress should not be rewarding the Pentagon with a massive 
spending increase. I cannot support a bill that funds the Pentagon at a 
level far beyond what is necessary for our national defense, turning 
our backs on the serious human need we face today.
  For these reasons, I am unable to support the NDAA conference report 
and will vote no.

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