WASHINGTON — Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) issued the following statement upon passage of the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in the House of Representatives:
“For the second year in a row, MAGA House Republicans pursued a path of extremism for the annual Pentagon authorization bill to continue waging their attacks on climate action, reproductive rights, LBGTQ+ rights, and communities of color. This bloated $833 billion Pentagon authorization bill approves $8.6 billion in additional tax dollars for an out-of-control military budget, expanding costly and unnecessary weapons systems while banning gender-affirming care, abortion travel, and diversity efforts for servicemembers.
“Meanwhile, investments in domestic priorities, from education to housing, health care to child care, remain squeezed after Republicans threatened to default on the country’s debt, forcing draconian spending caps. Progressives joined nearly all House Democrats in voting ‘no’ on this shameful bill, which also denied CPC members the opportunity to offer amendments to protect human rights abroad, reaffirm congressional war powers, strengthen labor and civil rights for service members, and reduce waste, fraud, and abuse in military spending.
“We look forward to a process led by a Democratic House that allows an open and robust debate on the issues Americans care about—national security and peace, upholding human rights, protecting our servicemembers and their families, and taking on the climate crisis and corporate corruption—not cynical attacks on vulnerable Americans.”
