WEST POINT – Congressman Pat Ryan (D, NY-18/19), a member of the House Armed Services Committee and a West Point graduate, stood outside Thayer Gate of the military academy on Monday to urge support for the timely passage of the National Defense Authorization Act.
The roughly $800 billion package has been approved in the House of Representatives but awaits action in the Senate and Ryan is concerned that it could be held up.
“When it comes to our veterans, our military families, we have to rise above this partisan divide we have in our country right now and come together as patriots and make sure that we deliver in keeping our country safe and supporting our troops and our military families,” he said.
Ryan said the authorization act will provide $39.8 million toward the continuing construction of the $200 million West Point cyber and engineering center, $1.6 million to upgrade barracks and child development centers, and include a 4.6 percent pay raise for active duty members and civilians.
Orange County Executive Steven Neuhaus, a member of the Navy Reserves, said the NDAA “should be non-negotiable, non-political.”
The bill has passed on time every year for the last 62 years and Neuhaus said it should not be “held hostage” by partisan politics.
