Congressman Tom Price (R-GA) issued the following statement after the House of Representatives passed the FY 2011 National Defense Authorization Act.

“Our brave military men and women serve this nation nobly. They deserve to have the best resources and tools available to complete their mission and defend our freedoms,” said Congressman Price. “I appreciate that in many ways this legislation reflects the needs of our Armed Forces, even though our military priorities under this Administration and Democrat Congress have too often come second to a big government, liberal domestic agenda.

“It is disconcerting that Democrat leaders chose to use an opportunity to provide for our defenders of freedom as a convenient window to shove through a repeal of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy. Our military leadership has said repeatedly that it believes a review of this decision is vital to ensuring we make the right decision. While American troops are engaged in major conflicts across the globe, it would be reckless and disrespectful for Congress to overhaul a policy of this magnitude.

“In the end, it did not have to be this way. What started off as a truly bipartisan measure once again devolved into the usual hyper-partisan gamesmanship and opportunism now commonplace for Speaker Pelosi and her Democrat majority. The American people and our fighting men and women deserve better.”