Cole Supports NDAA Conference Report
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04), a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, released the following statement after he supported the Conference Report for H.R. 1735, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2016, on the House floor. The legislation authorizes funding for our nation’s military personnel, readiness and operations. It includes $515 billion in base spending for national defense and $89.2 billion for Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO), reflecting the president’s total budget request of $604.2 billion. The legislation passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 270-156.
Unlike the House version passed in May, the NDAA Conference Report includes a 1.3 percent raise for service members, rather than the House-recommended version of 2.3 percent. The report also left out the lump-sum payment option at retirement, reflected cuts to housing allowances and increased fees for TRICARE prescriptions.
However, the report does repeal a 1 percent penalty for military retirees on cost-of-living-adjustment (COLA) benefits. As recommended by the Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission, the legislation includes modernization of benefits and retirement options available to military and their families. Other positive provisions include support for commissary funding, retention of dual housing allowance for military couples and authorization of Survivor Benefit Plan coverage for a spouse in the event a former spouse predeceases the military member.
“I support the legislation jointly produced by House and Senate conferees that equips our military service members and supports our veterans, military retirees and their families,” said Cole. “While I am disappointed that several valuable provisions aimed at helping military retirees and families were not carried over from the original House version, I believe that passage of this compromise agreement is still the most responsible thing to do. In a dangerous world, it is critical that we have the capability to face direct threats to our nation’s security and those to our friends and allies. However, we cannot strike our enemies without a military that is properly equipped to confront those mounting dangers in our midst. This legislation reflects bipartisan agreement to prioritizing and arming our troops, and I am deeply disappointed that the president has threatened to veto the bill. Certainly, those who volunteered to risk their lives on behalf of all Americans should never be at the center of partisan dispute.”
Cole also made remarks during Rules Committee consideration of the NDAA Conference Report yesterday, commenting on the president’s threat to veto the legislation. Video during the hearing is available here.
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Contact:Sarah Corley (202) 225-6165