Niki Tsongas: “I thank Ranking Member Smith and Chairman Thornberry for their leadership. I would also like to thank Chairman Turner…”

“I thank Ranking Member Smith and Chairman Thornberry for their leadership. I would also like to thank Chairman Turner for his partnership and leadership this year on the Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee and for maintaining the spirit of bipartisanship that is the tradition of this committee. Mr. Speaker, the fiscal year 2018 NDAA takes significant steps to support and protect military members and their families. However, I share Ranking Member Smith's concerns that this year's bill authorizes a level of defense funding that is wholly unrealistic. The numbers included in this bill are well above caps placed on defense spending by the Budget Control Act, and prioritize defense spending at a devastating cost to important Federal agencies and other investments that are critical to maintaining our national competitiveness and the future of our country. They are being put forward at the same time that we are considering a tax reform bill that will significantly cut revenues and, by the latest estimate, add $1.7 trillion to the Federal deficit. Accordingly, the increased spending included in this bill are hollow numbers and we are failing to deliver a credible or sensible long-term plan to the Defense Department. Throughout my tenure on this committee, I have been guided by our moral obligation to ensure that the men and women that we send into harm's way are properly equipped and the best protected in the world.…”