After more than 12 hours of committee deliberation and debate, the FY2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) was passed out of the House Armed Services Committee with a 58-1 vote.
According to a press release from Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI), he was a member of the House Armed Services Committee and subcommittee chairman and played an integral role in the creation of NDAA. The NDAA gives authority for policies, programs, and funding within the Department of Defense. Gallagher emphasized the importance of giving the military the ability to avoid war with China, and possibly to defeat the Chinese Communist Party if a war does occur.
“This year’s NDAA advances these objectives by rejecting the Biden administration’s plan to shrink the Navy, conducting urgently needed oversight of the Pacific Deterrence Initiative, and enhancing cooperation with Taiwan and our allies across the Indo-Pacific,” Gallagher said in his release. “It modernizes our outdated energetics enterprise to make our missiles a more powerful and credible deterrent and ensures the Secretary of Defense has a plan to develop and utilize these missiles in the Indo-Pacific. It revolutionizes the way the Department of Defense innovates and begins to bridge the valley of death by prioritizing the early adoption and integration of cutting-edge, commercial technology.”
Gallagher successfully advocated for significant advancements benefiting Northeast Wisconsin and our national defense, particularly by improving cyber security capabilities and enhancing our capacity to counter aggression from the CCP, according to the release.
According to a report by the Heritage Foundation, the military strength in 2023 has significant capabilities, but there is an evident widening of the gap between capabilities and security challenges. The report added that strategic investments must be made to bolster the national defense to preserve our nation’s freedom.
The Navy needs an increased number of ships to counter China’s navy, and the Air Force also needs F-35s and more trained and experienced pilots. The Army also needs to modernize efforts and enhance recruitment, the Heritage report said.
“According to his press release, Gallagher said, “We must put hard power in Xi Jinping’s path before it is too late, and this NDAA is a critical step in that direction."
