Defense & National Security

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the House and Senate convened the FY 2017 National Defense Authorization Act conference committee. Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, was appointed a conferee for the education and labor provisions contained in the House and Senate versions of the FY 2017 National Defense Authorization Act. Below is Congressman Scott’s opening statement as prepared for delivery from today’s conference meeting: “Thank you Chairmen Thornberry and McCain, and Ranking Members Smith and Reed. I appreciate the opportunity to outline the views of the Education and the Workforce Committee Democrats. But before I begin discussing my committee’s priorities, I must briefly mention my strong support for the House version’s shipbuilding and ship maintenance provisions. I have the honor of representing Hampton Roads, Virginia, the heart of our nation’s shipbuilding industrial base.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement on his No vote on H.R. 4909, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Roll Call No. 216): “The House version of the FY2017 National Defense Authorization Act contained many provisions that I strongly support, especially those pertaining to shipbuilding and ship maintenance, as well as the proposed pay increase for our men and women in uniform. “Unfortunately, the bill also includes several troubling provisions that ultimately required me to vote No. As drafted, the bill uses an accounting gimmick that would transfer approximately $18 billion from the Overseas Contingency Operations account to fund base Department of Defense accounts. The Ranking Member of the Armed Services Committee has pointed out that this will shortchange our men and women in the field, degrade military readiness, and require Congress to enact a supplemental funding request for U.S. operations in Afghanistan by April 30, 2017. This accounting gimmick also breaks last year’s bipartisan budget agreement, setting up an unnecessary fiscal fight in the months ahead.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today the Air National Guard chose Joint Base Langley-Eustis (JBLE) for an Air Force Cyber Operations Squadron. Virginia’s bipartisan delegation, including Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) and U.S Reps. Scott Rigell (R-VA-2), Bobby Scott (D-VA-3), Gerry Connolly (D-VA-11), Rob Wittman (R-VA-1), and Randy Forbes (R-VA-4), has advocated to locate the cyber facility at JBLE since December 2014. “We were very pleased to hear that the Air National Guard chose Joint Base Langley-Eustis for an Air Force Cyber Operations Squadron,” the Virginia delegation said.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement on his opposition to H.R. 4038, the American SAFE Act of 2015, which would effectively stop the admission of properly vetted Syrian and Iraqi refugees into the United States: “Our nation continues to stand with the people of France in the wake of last week’s horrific terrorist attacks in Paris, and we must be vigilant in ensuring that a similar attack does not happen on our shores. Unfortunately, the bill considered in the House of Representatives today preys on the fear of the American people and would unjustly shut out the most vulnerable Syrians and Iraqis fleeing from the unimaginable violence overrunning their countries.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement on President Obama’s veto of the conference report to H.R. 1735, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016: “While I support a strong national defense and our men and women in uniform, I believe the President was right in vetoing this year’s National Defense Authorization Act and I will vote to sustain his veto. “The bill in its current form shields the Department of Defense from sequestration by moving billions of Defense Department funding into the Overseas Contingency Operations Account, which is exempted from sequestration. Democrats and Republicans all agree that sequestration is bad policy and must be addressed, but using accounting gimmicks to protect only the Defense side of the budget ledger, while still allowing sequestration to arbitrarily cut education, transportation, health care and every other vital function of government is irresponsible and irrational.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, along with U.S. Representatives Bobby Scott, Randy Forbes, Rob Wittman, Gerry Connolly, Robert Hurt, Dave Brat, and Don Beyer released the following statement on the release of a new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report that makes clear Fort Pickett, Virginia is the best location for a Foreign Affairs Security Training Center (FASTC). “After years of study, the Department of State and the General Services Administration determined in 2011 that Fort Pickett was the best site for security training for American embassy personnel and began to plan the facility

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the House of Representatives voted on H.R. 3461, to APPROVE the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, signed at Vienna on July 14, 2015, relating to the nuclear program of Iran. Congressman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) voted YES on H.R. 3461 (Roll Call No. 493). The House also considered H.R. 3460, a bill to suspend until January 21, 2017, the President’s authority to waive, suspend, reduce, provide relief from, or otherwise limit the application of sanctions pursuant to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. Congressman Scott voted NO on H.R. 3460 (Roll Call No. 494). Congressman Scott issued the following statement on today’s votes relating to the Iran nuclear agreement:

NEWPORT NEWS, VA – Congressman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement announcing his support for the P5+1 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, commonly referred to as the Iran nuclear agreement: “This month, Congress will be voting on a resolution of disapproval of the Iran nuclear agreement, which, if enacted, would deny the President the authority to waive certain sanctions against Iran. After careful deliberation, I have decided to support the Iran nuclear agreement and will vote against a resolution of disapproval. “This agreement took years of careful negotiations between Iran, the United States, Russia, China, the United Kingdom, France and Germany. It has been heralded as an unprecedented, landmark agreement for nuclear non-proliferation and was immediately endorsed by a unanimous vote of the United Nations Security Council.