Wyden explains ‘no’ vote on Defense Authorization Act

Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., released the following statement Thursday after voting ‘no’ on the National Defense Authorization Act:

“While there were provisions of this defense policy bill I supported—like a pay raise for our men and women in uniform and provisions to improve cybersecurity and protect whistleblowers in the intelligence community—I simply could not rubber-stamp a bill to authorize more than $700 billion in military spending, which is precisely what the Senate majority asked us to do.

“Holding one vote on presidential war powers a week after Donald Trump nearly bombed Iranian targets just doesn’t pass the smell test.

“This process failed to clear even the lowest bar when it comes to allowing an open debate about pressing military policy issues. Without any opportunity to consider or vote on amendments related to nuclear weapons, sexual assault in the military, emergency powers, the southern border and others, I could not support this bill.”