WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Steve Daines today blasted President Obama’s unprecedented veto of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which provides critical support for the nation’s military and national security and passed both chambers of Congress with overwhelming bipartisan support:
“It is reckless that the Commander-in-Chief is holding hostage critical support for the safety and security of our nation’s service members. Congress sent a clear and strong bipartisan message to the President that the American people support prioritizing and protecting the needs of the brave men and women serving our country. To deny our troops needed stability while serving both here at home and in dangerous theaters abroad is incomprehensible and wrong. Today’s actions prove President Obama is once again choosing to lead from behind. In the coming weeks, I look forward to casting my vote to override the President’s shameful veto.”
The NDAA overwhelmingly passed the United States Senate by a veto-proof majority of 70-27 on October 7, 2015 and the House of Representatives on October 1, 2015 on a vote of 270-156.
The NDAA provides much-needed support for Montana’s military missions, including:
- $19.7 million for the Tactical Response Force Alert Facility at Malmstrom.
- $4.26 million for an energy conservation project at Malmstrom.
- Authorizes funding for AMP Increments I and II to ensure that our C-130s are able to stay in the air.
- Authorizes funding for C-130 engine modifications.
- It expresses the sense of the Congress that the nuclear triad plays a critical role in ensuring national security and that it is the policy of the U.S. to operate, sustain, and modernize or replace the triad and to operate and modernize or replace a capability to forward-deploy nuclear weapons and dual-cable fighter-bomber aircraft.
The House of Representatives has scheduled a vote on November 5, 2015 to override the President’s veto.
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