Scott Votes Against Partisan Defense Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after voting against the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2027.

"The NDAA should be a bipartisan effort to address national security threats and support our service members. The House Armed Services Committee advanced a strong bill that includes more than $60 billion for shipbuilding, including funding for one Columbia-class submarine, two Virginia-class submarines, continued incremental funding for CVN 80 and CVN 81, and continued advance procurement funding for CVN 82. The bill also restores collective bargaining rights and expands TRICARE coverage for IVF.

"Unfortunately, House Republicans played politics with our service members and our national security by attaching the so-called SAVE America Act. Based on President Trump's unfounded belief that the 2020 election was stolen, this legislation imposes unnecessary and highly restrictive barriers to voting that would disenfranchise millions of Americans. If enacted, Americans could no longer use a driver's license or military ID alone to register to vote and would instead be required to provide additional forms of identification that roughly 21 million Americans do not possess. The legislation also threatens voting by mail and requires states to submit voter rolls to the Department of Homeland Security, the same agency overseeing ICE brutality in our communities. The SAVE America Act has no place in legislation funding our military."

"Congressional Republicans have repeatedly tried and failed to force the SAVE America Act through Congress. This is not a serious effort to support our troops. I hope these provisions, along with other unnecessary culture war amendments, are removed as the bill moves through the Senate, so Congress can pass the bipartisan NDAA our service members deserve."

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