This updated release reflects the final total of the $858 billion NDAA.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (MI-13) released the following statement after voting against the FY23 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA):

“The residents of the 13th Congressional District deserve better than this excessive funding bill supporting war and profit-driven defense contractors. I voted against the $858 billion so-called defense budget, the largest ever in the history of our country, while the needs of working families are neglected here at home. This package was $45 billion more than President Biden even requested. It’s outrageous that every year, we spend more on our military, weapons, and war than the next nine countries combined, including China, India, Russia, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Germany, France, Japan, and South Korea.

“I was sent to Congress to fight to enact policies that would make a meaningful difference in our residents’ lives. There are currently 40 million people across our country living in poverty. This wasteful Pentagon budget will line the pockets of military contractors at the expense of our communities here at home. It is impossible to justify when our neighbors are struggling to put food on the table, fighting to keep a roof over their heads, and rationing their medication. I will continue to fight like hell to prioritize funding for the Child Tax Credit, affordable housing, clean air and water, and bold climate action with the future of our planet at stake.

“For far too long, the Pentagon has operated with little oversight and accountability. The Pentagon has never passed an audit, leaving trillions of dollars unaccounted for. I will continue to call on Congress to rein in military spending, invest in working families, and commit to advancing diplomacy and peace over the military industrial complex.”

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