[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 121 (Friday, July 14, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H3602]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       WHY I VOTED NO ON THE NDAA

  (Mr. NICKEL asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. NICKEL. Mr. Speaker, America's national defense has historically 
been a source of bipartisan agreement, not a battleground for divisive, 
extreme partisan politics.
  Unfortunately, House Republicans chose to use the NDAA to advance 
controversial and harmful amendments rather than work in a bipartisan 
way to bolster our national defense, strengthen our national security 
interests, and protect our servicemembers.
  Through the amendment process, House Republicans inserted extreme 
anti-abortion, anti-LGBTQ, and anti-DEI amendments that infringe upon 
the rights of individuals, notably those who serve in our armed forces 
and their families, threaten their liberties, and undermine their 
principles of freedom and autonomy that they work every day to defend.
  With these poison pills, I could not vote to advance this year's 
NDAA, as amended.
  I will work tirelessly with my Senate counterparts and reasonable 
Republicans to ensure that damaging anti-abortion, anti-LGBTQ, and 
anti-DEI amendments are not included in the final text of this 
legislation.

                          ____________________