Today, Congressman John Curtis voted for the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). After years of damaging sequester cuts to our nation’s defense, the House passed new reforms to help restore and build a modern military. This bill gives our troops their biggest pay raise in nine years as well as special pay and bonuses to those in high-demand fields. Congressman Curtis added the following after voting for the NDAA: “I’m proud to support a well-deserved pay raise for our troops and extend special pay and bonuses to service members in high demand fields—something our service members and their families have more than earned. After years of damaging cuts, Congress voted to help strengthen our military and support our troops who have been asked to do too much with too little for far too long.” In an address to his colleagues on the House Floor, Congressman Curtis expressed his gratitude to those that have given everything to our country including Utahn Aaron Butler and his own father who served in World War II. Our country is forever indebted to the service of Aaron and countless others who make daily sacrifices to protect our country and keep us safe. And our country is likewise forever indebted to the families that have supported the brave young men and women that are willing to put themselves in harms way to protect us all. WATCH CONGRESSMAN CURTIS' FLOOR SPEECH HERE “After heroically serving this country, our veterans deserve the very best care that we can give them back home,” added Curtis. “This week I was honored to support more than a dozen Veterans bills that passed the House. These proposals will help improve the lives and honor the men and women who have served so selflessly. This legislation will help provide for disabled veterans who have been wounded in service; it will ensure our veterans have access to the care and resources they have earned; it will bring our homeless veterans off the street; it will ease education burdens placed on veterans by the federal government; it will protect our veterans from the dangers of opioid abuse; and it will increase accountability at the Department of Veterans Affairs to guarantee these brave individuals and their families receive the quality of service they deserve.” Here are just a few highlights from the FY19 NDAA: - Supports necessary topline funding to support our troops and readiness recovery consistent with Congress’ commitment to rebuild the military - Approves a well-deserved 2.6% pay raise for our troops – the largest in nine years - Increases funding to rebuild our military and support readiness recovery for each of the Services. $18.6 billion to rehabilitate and replace worn out Army equipment, $39.5 billion to begin overcoming the crisis in military aviation by getting more aircraft in the air, $36.0 billion to restore America’s strength at sea and $23.3 billion to rebuild crumbling military buildings and other infrastructure. This weekend we will celebrate Memorial Day and take the opportunity to express our deepest and most profound gratitude to those who have fallen in the service of our country. The brave men and women that serve are the best our country has to offer. They deserve to be equipped with the resources they need. ###