2023: Jen Kiggans Voted For “A Deeply Partisan Defense Bill” That Harmed Abortion Rights, LGBTQ Rights, Inclusion, And Banned Books

Kiggans Voted For Authorizing The Defense Budget For Fiscal Year 2024 That Was Considered “A Deeply Partisan Defense Bill” And “The Most Conservative National Defense Authorization Act In Decades”

2023: Kiggans Voted For Authorizing The Defense Budget For Fiscal Year 2024. In July 2023, Kiggans voted for: “Passage of the bill, as amended, that would authorize $874.2 billion in national defense spending, including $841.5 billion for the Defense Department and $32.2 billion for national security programs within the Energy Department. The bill would authorize approximately $168.6 billion for weapons and other procurement and $145.2 billion for military research and development. Within these totals, it would authorize $32.3 billion for shipbuilding; $13.2 billion for Air Force procurement of 83 new F-35 series tactical force aircraft; $17.4 billion for 92 Navy aircraft; $539 million for the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent ballistic missile system; and approximately $30 billion for missile defense programs, including $434 million for a hypersonic missile defense system, $498 million for continued development of Guam missile defense systems, $160 million for Israeli missile defense systems and $2.6 billion for a Space Force defendable missile warning satellite system. Within Energy Department funding, it would authorize $23.9 billion for the National Nuclear Security Administration, primarily for the maintenance of a nuclear weapons stockpile. It would authorize $38.2 billion for the Defense Health Program and $17.5 billion for military construction. It would authorize $9.7 billion for the Pacific Deterrence Initiative and $3.6 billion for the European Deterrence Initiative, primarily intended to counter aggression by China and Russia, respectively. For international assistance and cooperation, it would authorize $4 billion to bolster U.S. and allied forces in Europe against Russian aggression, including $300 million in security assistance to Ukraine; $565 million for the U.S.

Africa Command; $398 million for forces in Syria and Iraq combating the Islamic State group; $336 million for a cooperative threat reduction program assisting former Soviet Union countries; $300 million for cooperative research and development programs with Israel; and $210 million for the Baltic Security Initiative. The bill would authorize a 5.2 percent military pay increase and authorize the Defense Department to issue bonuses to junior enlisted servicemembers to counteract inflation. It would authorize $1.1 billion for the Defense Department environmental restoration fund and require the department to undertake various environmental cleanup activities. It would eliminate the position of chief diversity officer within the Defense Department and include various provisions to restrict DOD programs that involve diversity, equity and inclusion and critical race theory. The bill would establish a special inspector general for Ukraine assistance and require the Defense Department to make plans to increase the energy resiliency of each main operating base in the U.S. European Command zone. It would repeal a 2022 Defense Department memorandum regarding access to reproductive health care and prohibit the department from paying for or reimbursing expenses relating to abortion services; eliminate all Defense Department and Armed Forces offices esta??????the Defense Department from purchasing data of U.S. individuals that would otherwise require a warrant, court order or subpoena.” The bill passed by a vote of 219-210. [H.R. 2670, Vote #328, 7/14/23; CQ, 7/14/23]

• HEADLINE: “House Narrowly Passes Divisive Pentagon Policy Bill.” [Washington Post, 7/14/23]
• New York Times: NDAA Was “A Deeply Partisan Defense Bill.” “Republicans on Friday rammed through the House a deeply partisan defense bill that would limit abortion access, transgender care and diversity training for military personnel, setting up a showdown in the Senate that could imperil the crucial annual measure to provide a pay raise for troops, set defense policy to counter U.S. adversaries and sustain Pentagon programs at a time of rising threats.” [New York Times, 7/14/23]
• Washington Post: “The Most Conservative National Defense Authorization Act In Decades.” “Congress’s decades-long streak of bipartisan support for its annual defense policy and spending plan collapsed Friday, after House Republicans rammed through the most conservative National Defense Authorization Act in decades — restricting military personnel’s access to reproductive care and diversity protections, and imperiling lawmakers’ broader effort to set major national security priorities.” [Washington Post, 7/14/23]

Kiggans Voted For Multiple Partisan Amendments That Harmed Abortion Rights, LGBTQ Rights, Inclusion, And Banned Books

Kiggans Voted For An Amendment To Prohibit The Defense Department From Implementing Biden Climate Change Executive Orders. In July 2023, Kiggans voted for: “Roy, R-Texas, amendment no. 64 to HR 2670 that would prohibit the Defense Department from implementing several Biden administration executive orders relating to climate change and environmental policy.” The amendment was adopted by a vote of 217-216. [H.R. 2670, Vote #326, 7/14/23; CQ, 7/14/23]

Kiggans Voted For An Amendment To Prohibit Military Service Academies To Use NDAA Funds Toward Race-Based Admissions Practices. In July 2023, Kiggans voted for: “Banks, R-Ind., amendment no. 63 that would prohibit military service academies from using any funds authorized by the bill to discriminate or use quotas in admissions on the basis of race or ethnicity.” The amendment was adopted by a vote of 218-210. [H.R. 2670, Vote #325, 7/14/23; CQ, 7/14/23]

Kiggans Voted ForAn Amendment To Prohibit DOD From Hiring Additional For DEI Positions And Repeal The Creation Of A DOD Inspector General. In July 2023, Kiggans voted for: “Burlison, R-Mo., amendment no. 62 that would prohibit the Defense Department from establishing any new positions or filling any vacancies in positions with responsibilities involving diversity, equity and inclusion. It would also repeal the creation of a DOD inspector general focused on diversity and inclusion oversight and preventing supremacist, extremist and criminal gang activity by servicemembers.” The amendment was adopted by a vote of 218-213. [H.R. 2670, Vote #324, 7/13/23; CQ, 7/13/23]

Kiggans Voted For An Amendment To Prohibit Federal Funds For DEI Training. In July 2023, Kiggans voted for: “Gaetz, R-Fla., amendment no. 52 that would prohibit the use of any funds authorized by the bill for training on diversity, equity and inclusion.” The amendment was rejected by a vote of 210-221. [H.R. 2670, Vote #321, 7/13/23; CQ, 7/13/23]

Kiggans Voted For An Amendment To Prohibit Department Of Defense School Libraries From Having “Pornographic And Radical Gender Ideology Books.” In July 2023, Kiggans voted for: “Boebert, R-Colo., amendment no. 35 that would prohibit Defense Department Education Activity schools from using funds to purchase and maintain pornographic and radical gender ideology books in school libraries.” The amendment was adopted by a vote of 222-209. [H.R. 2670, Vote #314, 7/13/23; CQ, 7/13/23]

Kiggans Voted For An Amendment To Prohibit The Display Of Unapproved Flags. In July 2023, Kiggans voted for: “Norman, R-S.C., amendment no. 34 that would establish a list of flags the Defense Department is allowed to display in any DOD work place, common access area or public area, including the American flag, a military service flag, and the POW/MIA flag.” The amendment was adopted by a vote of 218-213. [H.R. 2670, Vote #313, 7/13/23; CQ, 7/13/23]

Kiggans Voted For An Amendment To Eliminate DEI Offices From The Armed Forces And Department Of Defense (Revote). In July 2023, Kiggans voted for: “Norman, R-S.C., amendment no. 33 that would eliminate all Defense Department and Armed Forces offices established to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion as well as terminate all personnel within such offices.” The amendment was adopted by a vote of 214-213. [H.R. 2670, Vote #312, 7/13/23; CQ, 7/13/23]

Kiggans Voted For An Amendment To Eliminate DEI Offices From The Armed Forces And Department Of Defense. In July 2023, Kiggans voted for: “Norman, R-S.C., amendment no. 33 that would eliminate all Defense Department and Armed Forces offices established to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion as well as terminate all personnel within such offices.” The amendment was rejected by a vote of 216-216. [H.R. 2670, Vote #311, 7/13/23; CQ, 7/13/23]

Kiggans Voted For An Amendment To Prohibit The Department Of Defense From Requiring Training On Race-Based Concepts For Its Employees. In July 2023, Kiggans voted for: “Crane, R-Ariz., amendment no. 32 that would prohibit the Defense Department from making participation in training or support for certain politically-based concepts, including concepts related to race, color, sex or nationality, a requirement for hiring, promotion or retention of individuals. It also would stipulate that DOD employees and servicemembers cannot be compelled to declare belief in or participate in training that promotes such concepts as a condition of favorable personnel actions.” The amendment was adopted by a vote of 214-210. [H.R. 2670, Vote #310, 7/13/23; CQ, 7/13/23]

Kiggans Voted For An Amendment To Prohibit Race-Related Teaching In DOD Education. In July 2023, Kiggans voted for: “Roy, R-Texas, amendment no. 31 that would prohibit the use of federal funds for the Department of Defense Education Activity to promote race-related theories or teachings. It would stipulate that nothing in the amendment would be construed to restrict a teacher, student or other individual’s free speech.” The amendment was adopted by a vote of 227-201. [H.R. 2670, Vote #309, 7/13/23; CQ, 7/13/23]

Kiggans Voted For An Amendment To Prohibit The Establishment Of DEI Officers In The Defense Department. In July 2023, Kiggans voted for: “Roy, R-Texas, amendment no. 30 that would prohibit the use of federal funds to establish, within the Defense Department, any positions similar to chief diversity officers or senior advisors for diversity and inclusion.” The amendment was adopted by a vote of 217-212. [H.R. 2670, Vote #308, 7/13/23; CQ, 7/13/23]

Kiggans Voted For An Amendment To Prohibit Gender Transition Coverage For Military Family Minors. In July 2023, Kiggans voted for: “Norman, R-S.C., amendment no. 20 that would prohibit gender transition procedures through the Exceptional Family Member Program for military minor family members, including surgery or medication.” The amendment was adopted by a vote of 222-210. [H.R. 2670, Vote #302, 7/13/23; CQ, 7/13/23]

Kiggans Voted For An Amendment To Prohibit The Defense Department From Covering Sex Reassignment Surgeries And Gender Hormone Treatments. In July 2023, Kiggans voted for: “Rosendale, R-Mont., amendment no. 10 that would prohibit TRICARE from covering and the Defense Department from furnishing sex reassignment surgeries and gender hormone treatments for transgender individuals.” The amendment was adopted by a vote of 222-211. [H.R. 2670, Vote #301, 7/13/23; CQ, 7/13/23]

Kiggans Voted For An Amendment To Prohibit The Defense Department From Paying For Expenses Related To Abortion Services. In July 2023, Kiggans voted for: “Jackson, R-Texas, amendment no. 5 that would repeal a 2022 Defense Department memorandum regarding access to reproductive health care and prohibit the department from paying for or reimbursing expenses relating to abortion services.” The amendment was adopted by a vote of 221-213. [H.R. 2670, Vote #300, 7/13/23; CQ, 7/13/23]