Bilirakis Supports Package to Strengthen National Security, Boost Military Pay & Counter Chinese Aggression

Washington, DC:   Earlier today, Congressman Gus Bilirakis released the following statement after voting in favor of this year’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

“This package includes provisions to provide for the needs of servicemembers and their families through a record 5.2% pay increase, improved housing allowance and access to healthcare, and much needed oversight from bureaucratic overreach. It safeguards taxpayer dollars by cracking down on waste, fraud, and abuse while defunding woke initiatives and countering Communist China’s aggression. It also contains language that will provide assistance to the 8,000 servicemembers who were discharged for exercising their medical freedom and refusing to comply with the covid-19 vaccine mandate.  In addition to removing penalties they endured, the bill provides a path back to service,” said Congressman Bilirakis.   “I was extremely disappointed that my proposed amendment to add the Major Richard Star Act into the NDAA was not accepted. I also supported an amendment to the NDAA that would strip funding for Ukraine from the package because I believe there has been insufficient transparency and accountability for the billions of American tax dollars already spent there. I’m also concerned about how the depletion of our stockpiles could impact military readiness and about the lack of a cohesive exit strategy.   Unfortunately, not enough of my colleagues joined me on that amendment and it was not included in the package.  However, the NDAA is still an important step forward in keeping our country safe during these turbulent times!