Rep. Calvert: Defense Bill Will Help Maintain U.S. Military Dominance

Today, Congressman Ken Calvert (CA-42) voted along with a bipartisan majority (295 to 125) of the House of Representatives in approving the William (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for FY21.

"There's nothing more important than protecting the safety and security of America," said Rep. Calvert. "The bill approved by the House today provides the foundation for training and equipping our troops to carry out their mission. I strongly support the Indo-Pacific Deterrence initiative provisions to deter China from its aggression and support our allies in the region. Maintaining our technological edge over our adversaries is critical to sustaining our military dominance, which is why I'm pleased the bill sets increased funding levels for emergent technologies, including artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, and biotechnology. The bill also provides the resources required to support the Defense Department's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and keep our men and women in uniform healthy."

"I am thankful my House colleagues approved an amendment I cosponsored with my Riverside County colleague Rep. Mark Takano (CA-41) to delay any termination of the Defense Media Activity at March Air Reserve Base. The amendment would prohibit the closure by the Defense Department until a study is completed to analyze the impacts of consolidating or transitioning to alternative content delivery methods. These jobs should not be eliminated without careful consideration of the long-term consequences."