Mike Rogers

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Banks), the ranking member of the Cyber, Innovative Technologies, and Information Systems Subcommittee.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, this amendment is Orwellian and insulting to servicemembers. I urge all Members to oppose it. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Waltz).

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 7900, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023. H.R. 7900 represents a truly bipartisan bill. I thank Chairman Smith for his tremendous leadership and cooperation in helping to fashion it. Over the last year, we have seen the best of our soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, and guardians. They performed in the toughest environments and have done so with the greatest level of skill and professionalism. Without a doubt, these men and women are the greatest force for good the world has ever seen. Providing the authorities and resources our warfighters need to defend our Nation is the greatest responsibility we have in Congress. We fulfilled that responsibility with this NDAA. We put our servicemembers first, providing a 4.6 percent pay increase and expanding benefits for military spouses and families. To counteract the effects of record inflation on our servicemembers and their families, our bill provides an additional 2.4 percent bonus to enlisted personnel. It includes an additional $500 million for housing allowances to offset the skyrocketing rents and an additional $750 million to reduce the price of food and other necessities at our military commissaries. The investments we make in this bill are focused on ensuring our warfighters are the best equipped and trained in the world. We increased funding for readiness, reversing cuts in our military construction and housing projects; expanding training availabilities for servicemembers; and improving the safety of the ships, aircraft, combat vehicles, and facilities where our warfighters serve. To ensure our warfighters prevail on future battlefields, we focused on modernization. That means divesting less capable legacy systems and investing in emerging technologies that will help us stay ahead of our adversaries. This bill saves the taxpayer over $6 billion by divesting hundreds of older, less capable ships, aircraft, and other legacy systems. We use those savings and more to invest in emerging technologies such as AI, quantum computing, hypersonic weapons, and autonomous systems. These investments are so critical because China and Russia are rapidly modernizing their militaries. China is outpacing us with advancements in emerging technologies and weapons systems, and we know China isn't building these capabilities purely for defense. In recent years, we have seen China use its military to push out its borders, threaten our allies, and gain footholds on new continents. H.R. 7900 is laser-focused on preparing our military to prevail in a conflict with China. It makes critical investments in new systems capable of surviving in contested environments. It includes provisions that will further harden our supply chain and industrial base against infiltration from China. It reaffirms our support to allies in the region, especially Taiwan. It also strengthens our European alliance as these democracies face grave threats from the unhinged crackpot currently leading Russia. Threats from adversaries like China and Russia are not the only ones we face. Terrorists continue to plot to destroy our way of life. We must continue to take the fight to them anywhere at any time they threaten us. With strong investments in new capabilities and readiness, this bill enables our warfighters to do just that. This bill passed out of our committee 57-1, with all Republicans voting for it. It is the definition of a bipartisan bill. It will enhance the congressional oversight of DOD, improve the quality of life for our servicemembers and families, and ensure the military is properly resourced and equipped to defend our Nation and its allies. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to vote for this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, this amendment completely undermines the existing contractor debarment processes at the DOD. Federal contractors and subcontractors are already required to comply with the National Labor Relations Act. There are already tools to bring contractors into compliance. But this amendment takes the decision out of the hands of the contracting officer to determine whether a contractor is responsible. If enacted, this amendment would limit the Department's ability to receive quality goods and services and drive up costs unnecessarily. Federal contractors and subcontractors are already required to comply with the National Labor Relations Act. Yet this amendment would go further and seek to prefer contract awards based on compliance with labor agreements in a new and unprecedented way regardless of its negative impact on small businesses and national security. I will note that this amendment is opposed by the National Federation of Independent Businesses, as well as the Workplace Policy Institute and the Associated Builders and Contractors. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to oppose the amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, this amendment completely undermines the existing contractor debarment processes at DOD. Federal contractors and subcontractors are already required to comply with the National Labor Relations Act. There are already tools to bring contractors into compliance. This amendment takes the decision out of the hands of the contracting officer to determine whether or not a contractor is responsible. Something as small as a single paperwork violation would prohibit DOD from contracting with a company. This is an unprecedented prohibition that exists nowhere else in the Federal Government. It is a departure from the processes we use to prevent contracting with bad actors and would undermine our national security. If enacted, this would severely limit the Department's ability to contract for goods and services needed to support the warfighter and execute critical mission sets around the globe. Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to oppose the amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Lamborn).

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this amendment.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, this amendment creates an existential threat to the good order and discipline of the military. A servicemember may seek an order from the U.S. district court demanding a status update or final action within 180 days after any supervisor or office receives a complaint. This creates an unprecedented right to sue the commanders and force outcomes of administrative proceedings, some of which could be tied to active law enforcement investigations. An activist district court judge could reverse or set aside the final decision of a commander. I understand that some of my colleagues wish to do away with the UCMJ altogether. I believe this and other provisions are the first step toward that end. This provision will not benefit those who need protection the most in the Armed Forces and will undermine the strong bipartisan work that has taken place on sexual harassment and sexual assault. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, this amendment demolishes the good order and discipline of the military and should be rejected. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no,'' and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to oppose this effort. It could stop procurement of critical systems needed to counter China. It could delay construction of military housing projects, and it could stop work on vital programs to improve the safety of ships, aircrafts, and combat vehicles. Mr. Speaker, this is a bad amendment. I urge all Members to oppose it, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this amendment.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this amendment.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Jackson), an outstanding member of the Armed Services Committee.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Rutherford).

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bacon), who serves on the Armed Services Committee.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this en bloc amendment, and I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Stauber).

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, this amendment weakens our partnerships in the SOUTHCOM region and helps China to continue their malign efforts. Mr. Speaker, I urge rejection of this amendment and a ``no'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Burgess), my colleague.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Perry).

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Tenney).

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.