Congressman McCarthy Statement on House Passage of National Defense Authorization Act

Washington D.C. – Congressman Kevin McCarthy (CA-22) today issued the following statement on House passage of the National Defense Authorization Act, which authorizes appropriations for the Department of Defense (DoD) and related national security programs for Fiscal Year 2013:

"The defense authorization bill passed by the House today ensures that our men and women in uniform have the resources they need to successfully defend and protect the United States, and that China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station, Edwards Air Force Base, Camp San Luis Obispo and Camp Roberts remain premier military installations in our communities," said Congressman McCarthy. "This bill makes important reforms that will preserve our military industrial base and also encourage small businesses through more opportunities to do business with the Department of Defense. In addition, it rejects the two rounds of Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) requested by the President, prevents the Administration from increasing TRICARE fees on military retirees and servicemembers' families, and provides a 1.7% pay increase to members of the Armed Forces - all while decreasing overall spending levels. I applaud the House for restoring common sense to the defense budget while making sure that our military remains the best in the world."

The National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 4310) for Fiscal Year 2013 was passed by the House today. Congressman McCarthy joined House Armed Services Chairman Buck McKeon and bipartisan House leadership in support of passage of this bill. It passed the House by a vote of 299-120.