As the National Defense Authorization Act moves toward final Congressional negotiations, the National Center for Policy Analysis has weighed in on four different issues still unresolved in a letter sent this week to members of the NDAA Conference Committee.
The letter is authored by NCPA Executive Director Lt. Col. (ret) Allen West and Senior Fellow David Grantham. LTC West is in Washington, D.C. this week for meetings with Conference Committee members.
“The purpose of reaching out is to educate members on the best course moving forward on the final NDAA negotiations,” said West. “With this letter, the NCPA clearly defines its position on several amendments under the forthcoming NDAA that are most critical to readiness. For instance, it is unconscionable that military members resort to food stamps to support their families while so little is done to effectively manage military budgets and reign in bureaucracy.”
The NCPA’s four points, in part, state:
- We support compensating our men and women in the military at a pay rate above poverty level so active duty members do not have to be on federal government’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP.
- We welcome the changes to the Overseas Contingency Operation (OCO) fund and feel the House version offers a better road forward. From faulty security assistance programs to funding of obscure military operations, this non-discretionary, “emergency” account has essentially become an executive slush fund to circumvent current spending caps.
- We support the House efforts to repair the broken acquisition system by disallowing single-track acquisition careers for active duty military and implementing a scorecard system to measure effectiveness and transparency.
- We firmly agree with the prohibitions against transferring detainees to the United States or to certain other countries. …The plan to slowly empty Guantanamo Bay unnecessarily disadvantages the United States. Congress must remain steadfast in their refusal to transfer terrorists to the United States and other designated countries.
“Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle must come together and support our troops with the weaponry, supplies, and compensation they deserve,” added Dr. David Grantham. “They put their lives on the line to protect our freedoms each and every day.”
Earlier this year, the NCPA’s Provide for the Common Defense Now! Petition demanded Congress enact a national defense plan that protects our nation through a capable and economically efficient military. The petition outlined specific funding priorities and was delivered in June to Congressman Mac Thornberry and Senator John McCain, the chairmen of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees.
“The president and Congress used last year’s National Defense Authorization Act to devastate an already diminished military. When Congress makes the final votes on the 2017 NDAA, we put our national defense on the line once more,” said West.
The NCPA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nonpartisan public policy research organization headquartered in Dallas with offices in Washington, D.C. The NCPA depends solely on the contributions of individuals, corporations and foundations that advocate private sector solutions to public policy problems. All contributions are tax-deductible.