Washington, D.C. — Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr. voted against the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 today because it was filled with Republican amendments unrelated to national security.  The bill (H.R. 2670) includes amendments to deny reproductive health care to service members, targets the rights of LGBTQ+ service members, and bans books for service members to read.

“This bill is nothing more than a Republican wish list disguised as a national security bill,” said Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr.  “Usually, national security bills are designed to be bipartisan to help protect the security of our country.  But today’s MAGA Republicans have shown that they would rather continue to push bigoted, racist and economically-irresponsible legislation than pay our brave soldiers, promote military commanders, and improve the safety and security of our country.  They continue to fight against the rights of women, the rights of LGBTQ+ Americans, and efforts to increase diversity throughout the military and our country.  They should be ashamed to support this bill because it does not represent the interests of the American people.”

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