Washington, D.C. — Today, following the House passage of the bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Representative John Curtis (UT-03) made the following statement:

This year’s NDAA is a strong investment to deter foreign aggression that could impact the United States’ security and economic interests. It reverses concerning cuts proposed in the Administration’s budget that would leave us ill-prepared to deter China and Russia. Of particular interest to Utah, our military tells us this is a critical moment for Taiwan, a vital trading partner for the United States which supplies many of the semiconductors that power our economy, and this bill helps ensure that relationship remains possible. It also cuts spending programs that aren’t showing tangible results and initiatives the military just shouldn’t be involved in like DEI, CRT, or abortion services.

The federal government’s primary duty is to ensure the safety of American citizens from threats foreign and domestic. We, as Republicans, will persist in our efforts to overturn any policy that undermine military readiness.

The bill includes initiatives Congressman Curtis has championed, such as an assessment of the U.S. ability to cripple China’s energy imports in the event of an attack on Taiwan or another ally. Curtis added four amendments to the text on the floor:

1. Require an assessment of Cable Security Fleet's ability and preparedness to repair transoceanic submarine fiber optic cables that may be damaged or cut by adversaries.
2. Require an assessment of Russia's information operations capabilities and an assessment of current efforts taken by the Department of Defense and allied and partner militaries' information operations components to target and otherwise coordinate efforts against Russian military information operations.
3. Require a report on the sophistication of Iranian missile capabilities and details of Iranian ballistic missile testing.
4. Require a classified report on Iranian involvement in the narcotics trade, the entities associated with the trade, and an assessment on the financial benefits of involvement in the trade & what the money is used for.