Jen Kiggans Voted For Partisan Amendments To The FY2024 NDAA That Harmed LGBTQ+ Rights

2023: Kiggans Voted For On 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 established to promote diversity, equity and inclusion as well as terminate all personnel within such offices; and prevent 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]

• 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 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]