Congressman Biggs Supports House Passage of the 2019 NDAA

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 5515, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2019. Congressman Biggs voted in favor of the NDAA and released the following statement:

"Government's primary responsibility is to protect its citizens, and I am pleased to join my fellow House members to discharge our Constitutional duty once again with the passage of the 2019 NDAA. This NDAA ensures that America's Armed Forces have the funding they require for readiness, gives our service members a 2.6% raise, enhances our missile defense capabilities, and supports Department of Defense operations in Arizona, including the authorization for 60 Apaches. The men and women who serve in our nation's military deserve the best equipment and resources to carry out their missions.

"I'm grateful that my amendment that focuses on allied contributions to international defense collaboration passed and was included in the final bill approved by the House. Our allies should pay their share of the expense to maintain defense alliances, and the annual report required by my amendment will help us ensure they do. I hope that the Senate adopts this amendment in its version of the NDAA.

"As the Senate prepares to vote on its version of the NDAA and the two versions are melded together in a conference committee, I trust that we will keep our troops in mind throughout the process. We must pass the final NDAA and appropriate the necessary funding for the entirety of our fiscal year."

Congressman Andy Biggs is a first-term Representative from Arizona's Fifth Congressional District, representing parts of Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, and Queen Creek. Congressman Biggs is a member of the House Judiciary and Science, Space, and Technology committees, and is the chairman of the Environment Subcommittee. He lives with his wife, Cindy, in Gilbert.