Schakowsky Statement on Voting Against FY25 NDAA

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) released the following statement after voting against final passage of the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (FY25 NDAA):

"Today, I refused to support House Republicans' National Defense Authorization Act. Not only does this harmful bill exacerbate an already over-bloated Pentagon budget, authorizing nearly $900 billion in additional spending for the Department of Defense, but it also attacks some of the most vulnerable among us.

"The FY25 NDAA would enshrine into law Republicans' ongoing baseless discrimination against the transgender community and ban gender-affirming care for service members and their families, putting the lives of children at risk and potentially forcing thousands of service members to make the choice between continuing their military service or leaving to ensure their child can access the health care they need. It is cruel to ask our service members to defend us and our country and then in return trample all over their rights and access to healthcare. This provision is hateful, shortsighted, and will weaken our military readiness and retention rates.

"Our greatest security threats have no military solutions, and it is time our budget reflects that. We must instead make the investments in health care, education, housing, diplomacy, public transit, and the environment that Americans deserve.

"Although I am opposed to the FY25 NDAA, there were a few bright spots. I am supportive of the 14.5% pay raise for junior enlisted service members and 4.5% pay raise for all other service members. Further, I was glad to see that my bipartisan, bicameral Railroad Employee Equality and Fairness (REEF) Act was included in the legislation. This bill would restore equity to the railroad unemployment insurance program. For too long, railroaders and their families have been singled out and prevented from receiving full and fair unemployment benefits. My common-sense bill permanently protects their benefits from the impact of budget sequestration.

"Despite these important provisions, this legislation does not reflect the best interests of our nation and does not provide the protection that our service members need, and that is why I ultimately could not support the FY25 NDAA's passage."

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