Rep. Mac Thornberry, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, accused President Obama of “playing politics with defense” by threatening to withhold his signature from the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA.) Thornberry said the law is needed because the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria “provides a grave and direct threat to our security and our way of life.”
“The world is a safer, better place when the United States is militarily strong, and a weakened America invites greater danger,” the Texas Republican said.
“For 53 straight years, Congresses of both parties have passed and presidents of both parties have signed into law a defense authorization act which has helped to build that military strength that we need,” Thornberry said Saturday in the weekly GOP address.
The bill, which Obama has threatened to veto, passed the House May 15.
Thornberry noted the $612 billion legislation would “give our troops a raise” and “update their benefits,” as well as “ease our war fighters’ transition to the VA.”
“[Obama] wants more money for domestic programs, and has threatened to veto the defense bill unless he gets it,” Thornberry said.
The president has said his opposition to the bill is based on its funding breakdown, which shifts greater shares of defense spending into temporary war accounts meant for combat operations. There are fewer spending restrictions on those accounts.
The $90 billion in additional funding to “overseas contingency operations” would provide the necessary funding for military action against the Islamic State if Congress approves the measure.
White House officials have also opposed the legislation because it creates barriers to the president’s ability to empty Guantanamo Bay.
The Senate is expected to vote on the defense spending bill this summer.
