Congressman Jack Kingston - First District of Georgia

The House of Representatives has passed legislation key to the nation’s national security and to military installations in South Georgia.  With a bipartisan vote of 322-96, the National Defense Authorization Act will be sent to the Senate where swift passage is expected before the bill is sent to the President to be signed into law.

Congressman Jack Kingston (R-GA) supported the legislation, noting its importance to the country’s national security, to military installations in Georgia and to the troops and their families stationed there.

“Congress has come together on a bipartisan basis to provide our troops and their families with the necessary equipment, resources and support to complete their missions and return home safely,” said Kingston.   “This agreement also makes critical investments to prepare our military for emerging threats and to prevent terrorist attacks.  Closer to home, it will help the continued vitality or our military installations and ensure their first-rate facilities prepare our men and women in uniform for whatever comes their way.”

In addition to basic defense operations, the defense authorization extends vital troop pay and war-related authorities scheduled to run out in the next several weeks.  Without passage, troop pay and benefits could be suspended.

The package contains a number of key foreign policy provisions including authorization for prosecution of the war in Afghanistan and for security cooperation efforts in a post-war Iraq.  It tightens restrictions on entities doing business with Iran and calls for a number of actions regarding China, including a report on the threat of the U.S. national debt held by the country.

Within the First District, the defense bill contains funding for security measures on Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base, several construction projects at Fort Stewart and would provide for family housing on Moody Air Force Base.

An issue that gained nationwide attention and caused deep concern for Kingston was the treatment of U.S. citizens detained for terrorist activities.  As passed in the Senate, American citizens working with the terrorist network al Qaeda could be detained indefinitely.  That provision was removed and safeguards for American citizens were included in the package approved by the House.

“This proposal allows our military to capture terrorists while guaranteeing the constitutional rights of American citizens,” Kingston said.

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