Andy Biggs: “Two amendments I offered to the NDAA were adopted. The first addresses shared responsibility for the world's security.…”

“Two amendments I offered to the NDAA were adopted. The first addresses shared responsibility for the world's security. The United States is the most powerful nation on the planet and so must remain, but our allies must pull their weight on global security efforts. It is not just Americans who benefit from peace, after all. For instance, is it fair for economic powerhouse Germany to spend only 1.35 percent of its overall GDP toward NATO defense in the coming years? I don't think so. We should at least examine the contributions of Germany and all of our other allies. My amendment simply requires the Department of Defense to report the annual defense spending of each of our NATO and non-NATO allies. My second amendment affirms the critical importance of the U.S.- Israel relationship. Since its founding over 50 years ago, Israel has been an important strategic partner. Given the significant challenges our Nation currently faces in the Middle East, the U.S.-Israel relationship remains vital. I thank Armed Services Committee Chairman Smith and Ranking Member Thornberry for working with me on these amendments. ____________________”