Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) at an Event in Portland Last Year..

Yesterday, in a 281-140 vote, the US House of Representatives passed the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which authorizes expenditures for the Department of Defense, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) voted against its passage and released the following statement yesterday:

“I strongly believe in ensuring that our militlary has the resources it needs to defend our nation and support our service members.  I am glad the National Defense Authorization Act passed by the House includes authorization for three Arleigh-Burke destroyers, ship building infrasstructure improvements and increased pay for service members………..However, I will not support any bill that includes hateful, divisive language targeting transgender dependents of service members.  The eleventh-hour addition by Speaker Johnson is not only intentionally hostile, its also dangerously vague. opening the door to future administrations to further target vulnerable children.  This kind of thetoric fundamentally undermines our country’s ability to combat real threats to the US and our allies and has no place in a historically bipartisan, must-pass bill.”

Her statement continues:  “I also share concerns raised by the National Guard and governors across the country about provisions in the bill that could undermine the ability of states to respond to emergencies and protect their communities.  The provision that requires the Air National Guard to transfer space functions to the Space Force oversteps governors authority to control their own National Guard and sets a dangerous pecedent that I suspect the future Trump administration to take advantage of……”

“Furthermore, this bill inflates the Pentagon’s budget without adequately addressing pressing national security challenges like climate change and cybersecurity.  It prioritizes culture wars and partisan agencies over the readiness, lethality, and well-being of our military and their families…”