Republicans Put Partisan Politics Over the Lives of our Servicemembers

Washington D.C. –Today, Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-25) released the following statement after voting "No” on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA):

“Today, for the first time during my tenure in Congress, I voted "No” on the National Defense Authorization Act. The House Republican Majority decided to put partisan politics over the lives of our servicemembers, veterans, and our national security. I fully support, and have always voted for, giving our troops a pay raise and more allowances for housing and other benefits. Instead of passing a bipartisan bill that includes these benefits for our troops, the House Republican Majority decided to include their harmful, extreme, anti-abortion, anti-diversity, and anti-transgender agenda that doesn’t allow all Americans the opportunity to excel. 

It is also outrageous that the Republican Majority chose not to include, or even allow debate on, my three burn pits amendments, which would help prevent exposure and illness from toxic burn pits. Instead, they chose to play their political games. It is not over, and I will always put people above politics and will never stop fighting to help our servicemembers, veterans, and their families.

I am now calling on the Senate to pass my burn pits amendments and a bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act free of extreme partisanship ideology. Taking care of our servicemembers should not be a partisan game” said Dr. Ruiz.

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