WASHINGTON –U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., today released the following statement after the Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2015. The bill authorizes funding for the Department of Defense (DOD) and the national security programs of the Department of Energy (DOE):
“Today, I voted to pass the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which will allow the United States to respond to emerging threats and challenges, while giving our troops the tools and training they need, and the support they and their families deserve. The NDAA is the single largest authorization bill that Congress considers, and one of the few bills passed every year, making this annual bill one of the most important votes I take.
This year’s bill has made progress in a few key areas. The bill authorizes cooperative defense programs with our strongest allies, such as Israel’s Iron Dome. In addition, the NDAA expands the special immigrant visa program for Afghan citizens who put their lives at great risk to aid our soldiers during the war. Furthermore, while the NDAA allows a victim of sexual assault who believes that their rights were violated the ability to petition for a review of their case, far more needs to be done to boost accountability among commanding officers who handle reports of offenses within their unit.
This NDAA is by no means perfect. Given new and emerging threats, we need to examine our defense priorities and this bill does not provide much opportunity for debate. Congress cannot perpetuate a status quo, especially when it involves over 50 percent of federal discretionary spending, our service members, and our national security.
I believe that ISIS poses a grave threat to innocent people and to our allies. Debate and authorization for operations against ISIS is long overdue, and authorizing operations and funding against ISIS in must-pass defense bill without an Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) is a disservice to our men and women in uniform and an abdication of Congress' responsibilities. That is why I co-sponsored an amendment with Sen. Schatz (D-Hawai'i) to the NDAA to strike authorization for the training and equipping of the Syrian opposition until Congress passes an AUMF that permits such activities. While I am disappointed that our amendment was not included in the bill, I commend Sens. Menendez, Kaine and Paul for their leadership on this issue, and applaud the Foreign Relations Committee for passing an AUMF out of committee yesterday. I look forward to an opportunity for the full Senate to debate the parameters of our ongoing operations against ISIS.”