Rep. Mills’ Statement on the FY24 NDAA

In July, the House passed one of the most conservative and robust National Defense Authorization Acts (NDAA) in Congress. In this, it supported our servicemembers, improved the quality of life for families, addressed childcare shortages on bases, allocated funding for more housing, eliminated DEI offices, stopped taxpayer-funded transgender surgeries, and put an end to Biden’s abortion travel fund. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee and an Army Combat Veteran who has proudly worn the uniform, I always look at how we can improve the lives of all those serving and their families. I was proud to vote in favor of the House-passed bill that included over two dozen of my initiatives to support our servicemembers and prioritize U.S. national security.

Unfortunately, what came back from the Senate weakened and eliminated many of the House-passed goals. In addition, the Senate put in an extension to the weaponized and abused surveillance program (Section 702) of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). As a constitutionalist, I cannot in good conscience vote for a bill that imperils the constitutional rights of Americans by extending the government’s surveillance power of Americans and continuing the violations of privacy every American deserves. Today, I voted against big government and their surveillance program which has confirmed over 287,000+ violations and abuses by the FBI that would have continued to be used without reforms. I believe in the protection of Americans’ privacy and strengthening our military, which is why I voted NO on the final version of the Senate NDAA.

Let me be clear: this is not a vote against our brave men and women, or our military priorities, but is a vote to support American privacy and freedoms, which is what our military fights to protect.