Press Releases

Today, Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) voted for the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2011. The NDAA passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote count of 341 to 48.  

“I supported the National Defense Authorization Act to strengthen our national security and support service members and their families. This bill provides our service members with the equipment and resources they need to protect our country.”  

The House of Representatives passed a version of the Fiscal Year 2011 National Defense Authorization Act in May, but the Senate was unable to pass its version of the legislation.  The bill voted on today emerged from bipartisan negotiations with leaders in the House and Senate, who removed many controversial measures in an effort to help ensure a swift passage for the House and Senate.  Unfortunately, members of the Senate objected to language supported by Rep. Larsen in the earlier version of the defense bill that would have forced the Department of Defense to take into account the illegal subsidies received by Airbus in the tanker competition, and this language was not included in the final bill.

“I am disappointed that the defense bill does not include language forcing the Department of Defense to adjust the tanker competition to account for the fact that Airbus has received billions of dollars in illegal subsidies from European governments.  I will keep fighting to level the playing field for Boeing by forcing the Department of Defense to take into account the unfair competitive advantage these illegal subsidies give to Airbus.”

“Although this bill is not perfect, it includes critical priorities for our military.  This bill invests in the tools needed to crack down on terrorism and keep the worst weapons out of the worst hands by increasing our efforts to secure loose nuclear materials around the world.  This bill will take care of our service members and their families by raising military pay 1.4% and allowing TRICARE beneficiaries to keep their kids on their health care coverage until the age 26.  And this bill includes acquisition reform provisions that will save taxpayers billions of dollars on defense purchases and get needed equipment to our troops faster.

“I urge the Senate to act quickly to support this important legislation.”

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