Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Thursday, U.S. Congressman Mike Waltz (FL-6), Chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness, issued the following statement in support of the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act, which includes several of his priorities, including ensuring military readiness and bolstering our military personnel in Florida as well as addressing the growing threats the United States faces from adversaries like the Chinese Communist Party (CCP):

“As a Green Beret and combat veteran, I know the importance of a well-equipped, well-prepared military force. That is why I am proud the House Armed Services Committee passed this year’s defense bill to address the threats of today by bolstering our military with the funding our service members need to defend our great nation.

“Right now, our country faces numerous threats from adversaries, like the Chinese Communist Party, whose technology and military capabilities are advancing as rapidly as their ambitions. This defense bill will help ensure America can face these growing challenges ahead while protecting our strategic interests at home and abroad – and improving the quality of life for the men and women of our armed services and their families.

“Additionally, with the Committee’s passage of this bill, we secured military construction funding for bases and installations in our district and across Florida to ensure the Sunshine State remains the most military-friendly state in our country.”

The Committee included Waltz’s language and priorities to:

• Prohibit JROTC programs at CCP-controlled private schools
• Prohibit importation of renewable energy technology from China for U.S. military use
• Review Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs at the Department of Defense
• Prohibit funding for Critical Race Theory (CRT) at U.S. Service Academies
• Set gender-neutral fitness standards for combat military occupational specialties in the U.S. Army
• Examination of the U.S. Army recruitment shortfalls and application to National Guard structure
• Prohibit Department of Defense from contracting with any company conducting business with the Putin regime, or any natural gas, oil, and coal company operating in Russia
• Promote collaboration between the U.S. and Israel to develop best-practices in researching, diagnosing, and treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Encourage teaching as a career path for veterans
• Support training and readiness missions at Cecil Airport and General Aviation Airports
• Increase manufacturing capacity, lower costs, and support an accelerated supply chain of Legacy and Independently Designed Sonobuoys in De Leon Springs, Florida
• Allocate funding for new construction projects at Florida military bases, including Camp Blanding Joint Training Center, Patrick Space Force Base, MacDill Air Force Base, Eglin Air Force Base, and Jacksonville Air National Guard Base
• Upgrade Ship-to-Shore Fuel Distribution System
• Promote collaboration and threat sharing with commercial space operators and the Department of Defense
• Continue commissary privileges for remarried Gold Star Spouses
• Increase the number of Congressional nominations to the U.S. Service Academies

“Rep. Michael Waltz is an invaluable leader on the House Armed Services Committee,” said Chairman Mike Rogers (AL-3). “As Chairman of the Subcommittee on Readiness, Rep. Waltz has fought hard to protect DoD facilities from China’s reach, improve our ability to sustain global operations, and ensure that our warfighters have the tools they need to succeed.”

“Each year, this bill provides our military with the resources necessary to face challenges ahead,” said Waltz. “I am glad to see the progress made in this year’s defense bill during the House Armed Services Committee markup and hope this bipartisan legislation is worthy of the brave men and women in uniform that we depend on to keep America safe and free.”