Haaland Slams Trump's Veto that Takes Away Support for the Troops

Press Release

Congresswoman Deb Haaland (NM-01), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, slammed President Trump after he vetoed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which provides important funding for military servicemembers and national security.

"President Trump chose not to support our troops. He turned down vital funding for Kirtland Air Force Base, climate resilience at our military installations, and protections for military families. We passed this bill with a bipartisan veto-proof majority. I'm calling on my GOP colleagues to hold strong and override this veto," said Congresswoman Haaland, a member of the House Armed Services Committee.

President Trump vetoed the following funding and programs that were included in the NDAA which passed Congress earlier this month:

Supporting Jobs & Missions At New Mexico's Military Installations & National Labs

$50 million for Defense Community Infrastructure Program that defense communities like Albuquerque that host Military installations like Kirtland AFB can use to help improve schools, daycares, roads, and energy upgrades and other community infrastructure projects.
$46.6 million for a military construction project to update an administrative building at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico
$4.5 million for Holloman High Speed Test Track
$4.8 million for Sandia National Labs Facility Upgrade
$120 million for LANL Facility Upgrade
$5 million to expand the Combined Research and Development Agreement solar-pv microgrid pilot project at Kirtland Air Force Base (KAFB)
Creating New Jobs by Making New Mexico the Home of Future Space Industry

$9 million to increase funding for the Small Satellite Mission Operations Center to sustain space innovation to drive developing new technologies, doctrine and operational talent for our nation's critical space assets
Fighting for Equality & Opportunity in the Military

Rent the Camo: Access to Maternity Wear Act creates a "Rent the Camo" pilot program, fashioned after Rent the Runway, that issues maternity uniforms and maternity uniform related items to pregnant military members at no cost to the Servicemember while ensuring that uniforms are free of toxic chemicals that may harm the baby or mother
The Selected Reserve Education Loan Repayment Program (LRP) Enhancement Act will adjust the LRP Program so that Selected Reserve component service members can realize 100% of qualified education benefits within their six-year contract while providing a strong recruitment tool for the National Guard
Paid Parental Leave benefit updates to include FAA, VA, and other civilian employees
Request to enhance existing community family planning outreach and consultation provisions in Title X utilizing Kirtland AFB Honorary Commanders Program as a best practice model
$3 million to preserve the memorial to include managing the archive of artifacts, historic memorabilia, and documents related to servicewomen, maintaining the women veterans' oral history program and conducting other education programs related to women in military service
Establishment of service pilot under the Department's Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) Defense Education Program for students at Minority Institutions to diversify and strengthen the national security workforce
Directs the Secretary of Defense to develop and implement pregnancy policies that ensure Armed Forces and DOD civilian employees do not experience discrimination (including retaliation) or are not otherwise unduly affected as a result of pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical condition and has access to reasonable accommodations.
Takes an initial, vital step to make sure federal law enforcement will be identifiable by name and agency,
Requires a joint report from the Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs on former members of the armed forces who were discharged under Don't Ask, Don't Tell who have applied for a discharge upgrade.
Promoting the Health of Military Service Members & Families

Audit of the medical conditions and association of adverse exposures due to unsafe or unhealthy housing units
Study to ensure military families have consistent access to appropriate and quality education resources for children with special needs
Addressing Climate Change Threats & Improving Military Resilience

Pilot program for expansion of microgrids reducing costs and emissions
Direct Energy Research Microgrids for Energy Assurance and Mission readiness Report on the impact of diesel generation with regard to the unit cost, fuel cost, load supplied per unit, start-up reliability, supply chain costs and reliability and dependence on foreign suppliers
Report on water resiliency at military installations, to include the degree to which the Department has assessed the resiliency, opportunities for public-private partnerships, and barriers to addressing water and sewage resiliency gaps
Report to protect New Mexico's solar development by identifying vulnerabilities that result in security gaps, predatory pricing and unfair trade practices for other countries
Reports on fuel consumption, distribution, etc., to reduce consumption
Strengthen use of electric and hybrid vehicles for official business on military installations
Energy Metering requirement to ensure resilient power sources

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