Griffin: NDAA Agreement Provides Crucial Funding to Support Our Troops and Their Families

Press Release

Congressman Tim Griffin (AR-02) released the following statement today after the House passed the Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Agreement (H.R. 3979):

"This year's NDAA agreement provides crucial funding for our military, grants our troops a much-deserved pay increase, rejects the President's proposed cuts to TRICARE and commissary benefits, works to prevent military suicide, builds upon efforts to combat sexual assaults and addresses the growing threats posed by cyber attacks. While I am disappointed that the request to transfer 10 C-130Js from Keesler Air Force Base (AFB) to Little Rock Air Force Base (LRAFB) is delayed until a required cost assessment is completed, I am actively working to ensure the proposed transfer occurs as quickly as possible.

"The NDAA agreement also establishes new criteria to allow for the awarding of Purple Hearts to servicemembers that have been wounded or killed in an attack motivated by a foreign terrorist organization. For the past 4 years, I have urged the Department of Defense (DoD) to award the Purple Heart to Pvt. William Long and Pvt. Quinton Ezeagwula, the victims of the 2009 terrorist attack on the Little Rock Recruiting Station. Under the newly established criteria, there is no longer any excuse to refuse these men the Purple Heart. I was proud to vote for this bipartisan bill that supports our brave servicemembers and their families."

The NDAA agreement, which passed the House by a vote of 300--199, authorizes and prioritizes funding for the Department of Defense (DoD) and other select national security programs within the Department of Energy for FY 2015. The FY 2015 NDAA authorizes $521.3 billion in discretionary spending and authorizes $63.7 billion for Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO), $15.7 billion below the House-passed NDAA.

Section 571 of the NDAA agreement establishes new criteria for awarding the Purple Heart to members of the Armed Forces killed or wounded in attacks inspired or motivated by foreign terrorist organizations. This allows for awarding the medal to members of the Armed Forces who were killed or wounded in the attacks on Fort Hood and the Little Rock recruiting station, both in 2009. Since coming to Congress, Rep. Griffin has fought to ensure that Private Quiton Ezeagwula and Private William Andrew Long are honored with the Purple Heart that they have earned and deserve for their service and sacrifice, and Rep. Griffin supported the inclusion of this language in the NDAA.

Section 138 of the NDAA agreement limits the availability of funds for the transfer of U.S. Air Force (USAF) C-130H or C-130J aircraft until a period of 60 days has elapsed following the date on which the Secretary of the Air Force submits to the congressional defense committees an assessment of the costs and benefits of the proposed transfer. Rep. Griffin supported the USAF proposal to relocate 10 C-130J aircraft from Keesler AFB to LRAFB in 2015. Keeping these 10 aircraft at Keesler AFB will be done to the detriment of our nation's airlift capabilities, C-130 pilot training and the common-sense, money-saving consolidation of our C-130J Reserve aircraft at LRAFB.

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