Minneapolis Review

MINNEAPOLIS—Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) released the following statement following House passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

“The annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is a massive slush fund that doles out billions in wasteful spending to Pentagon contractors. We continue to spend more than the next eight countries combined on a department that cannot even pass a single financial audit. The United States Department of Defense is the single largest institutional fossil fuel user in the world, and a major impediment to the United States meeting our climate obligations. The more than $800 billion we spend on the Pentagon could be used to house our homeless, educate our kids, care for our seniors and expand healthcare for all of us. 

“But what Republicans did this year is truly shocking. They used the NDAA as another front in their bigoted attacks on women, LGBTQ+ people and people of color. Republicans added amendments to make it harder for female service members to access abortion, block transgender servicemembers from getting medical care, and gut diversity and inclusion programs in the military. 

“I was proud to offer several constructive amendments to this year’s NDAA based around priorities of human rights and upholding international law, including an amendment I co-led to ban the sale of cluster munitions. I was disappointed not one was made in order.

“Spending this much money on Pentagon bloat does not make us any safer. We can focus our energy on critical efforts—like assisting the Ukrainian people in fighting off Vladimir Putin’s invasion—without spending over $800 billion on wasteful contracts. For these reasons I voted no.”

You can view Rep. Omar's amendments here and below.

Revises the Statutory Price Limitation (SPL), which establishes the maximum price the Government (including the DOD) can pay for passenger motor vehicles which include systems and equipment that are customarily standard on vehicles that are completely equipped for ordinary operation. This amendment would codify existing regulatory requirements and apply them to universally to all vehicle acquisitions, in alignment with current vehicle purchasing best practices. Restricts security assistance to Uganda until the Secretary of State certifies that the Government of Uganda is upholding basic human rights standards including protections for LGBTQI+ rights. Revises the Statutory Price Limitation (SPL), which establishes the maximum price the Government (including the DOD) can pay for passenger motor vehicles which include systems and equipment that are customarily standard on vehicles that are completely equipped for ordinary operation. This amendment would codify existing regulatory requirements and apply them to universally to all vehicle acquisitions, in alignment with current vehicle purchasing best practices. Requires reporting from USAID on refugee flows out of Sudan since April 15, 2023. Requires the Secretary of State to submit a strategy to promote justice and accountability for human rights violations against civilians in Sudan Expresses a sense of Congress that India should be designated as a Country of Particular Concern in its next International Religious Freedom reports, as has been recommended by USCIRF for four consecutive years. Authorizes the State Department and USAID to directly support civilian humanitarian operations in Sudan, including those carried out by the Resistance Committees. Expresses a sense of Congress that the use of Indigenous names or signifiers as designations for enemy-held territory or enemy combatants represents an offensive and antiquated attitude towards Indigenous communities, draws on the harmful narratives of past military encounters, and should not be utilized going forward. Expresses a sense of Congress on the importance of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, recognizing the efforts of the Government of Vietnam in accounting for missing personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic, and encouraging State and DoD to strengthen partnerships and joint operations to help fully account for all missing personnel. Directs the Secretary of Defense to develop a process within 180 days of this bill's enactment to inform host country governments within 30 days of PFAS contamination and possible health hazards surrounding overseas U.S. military facilities and develop a remediation strategy that considers input from affected communities and in communication with the host-country government. Requires contractors to disclose human rights risks in their operations and supply chains Prohibits the transfer of cluster munitions. Original source can be found here