Niki Tsongas: “I rise in support of the Fiscal Year 2011 National Defense Authorization Act and the accompanying manager's amendment.…”

“I rise in support of the Fiscal Year 2011 National Defense Authorization Act and the accompanying manager's amendment. This bipartisan legislation supports the ongoing efforts of our Armed Forces to keep our country safe, to maintain our resolve against extremists, and to sustain nuclear weapons nonproliferation. It provides our men and women with the crucial tools they need to protect our country and to effectively find and hold accountable those who wish us harm. Equally as important, the NDAA includes protections for our servicemembers, such as lighter weight body armor that will keep our servicemembers safe but will lighten the burden we ask them to carry. This bill also expands legal rights for servicemembers who have been victims of sexual assault, and it improves training related to the prevention of and to the response to this crime. I also look forward to the long overdue repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5136.”