FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, June 19th, 2024
CONTACT: Emma Settle, (202) 225-4311
WASHINGTON, DC—Congressman Andy Ogles (TN-05) had eight legislative amendments included in the House’s final passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) on Friday, June 14th, 2024. The amendments touch on a number of important topics, including the prohibition of mask mandates for servicemembers, a ban against additional Ukraine funding, and the elimination of American dependence on China. Congressman Ogles had more amendments passed than any other freshman member and the second most in the House overall.
1. Ogles #51: Prevents COVID-19 mask mandates against our Servicemembers
This amendment would prohibit the Secretary of Defense from requiring individuals to wear masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19 on any military installation in the United States. Congressman Ogles introduced a similar amendment in four of the appropriation bills last year.
2. Ogles #18: Prevents transfer of $2 billion to Ukraine
In April, the House passed the Indo-Pacific Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, which, among other things, appropriated $2 billion in foreign military financing for the Indo-Pacific region (to countries staring down Chinese aggression). That same bill, however, included a provision allowing those funds to be diverted away from the Indo-Pacific to help Ukraine. This amendment would prohibit those funds from being sent to Ukraine.
3. Ogles #145: Ensures CCP military companies stay out of U.S. defense supply chains
The Section 1260H list is a Department of Defense “blacklist” of companies with close ties to the Chinese Communist Party. This amendment would allow the DoD to classify sensitive information pertaining to the reasons a company is placed on this list in order to enhance accountability.
4. Ogles #6: Sense of Congress on Eurosatory
Eurosatory is France’s biggest defense exposition, and it is also the largest international expo for land and air-land defense and security. Recently, the French government has barred any Israeli defense company from attending the event due to critical views on the Israel-Hamas conflict. Ironically, the event still hosts nations like China, Pakistan, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia. This amendment establishes a sense of Congress denouncing France’s removal of Israel from Eurosatory.
5. Ogles #16: Protects US taxpayers from supporting CCP companies
This amendment would ensure no funds authorized or otherwise made available by the NDAA can be made available to any company based in China, or whose beneficial ownership is of Chinese citizenship.
6. Ogles #17 – Removing waivers to allow China to participate in the largest naval exercise in the world
RIMPAC (Rim of the Pacific) is the world’s largest international maritime warfare exercise, involving coordination with dozens of countries. It is a vital naval exercise that deepens interoperability and resiliency with our allies and partners. Currently, China is prohibited from participating in RIMPAC unless they meet four conditions. However, these can be waived by the Secretary of Defense at any time. This amendment removes the waiver that allows the Chinese military to participate in this exercise due to their malign actions against American citizens through fentanyl trafficking, espionage, and genocidal activities.
7. Ogles #139: Adding additional requirements to Chinese participation in RIMPAC
This amendment would introduce an additional requirement for Chinese participation in RIMPAC, mandating that China conduct an internationally recognized free and fair presidential election.
8. Ogles #138: Invites Taiwan to all Rim of the Pacific naval exercises
During the FY24 NDAA cycle, Congressman Ogles introduced an amendment directing the Secretary of Defense to, within 30 days, invite the naval forces of Taiwan to the 2024 Rim of the Pacific exercise. That amendment was adopted in an En Bloc package in the House (En Bloc #4). The Senate stripped that provision out of the final NDAA package, arguing that it was not an authority the Defense Department needed. The RIMPAC exercise is, in part, intended to address the outbreak of conflict in the Indo-Pacific, of which Taiwan is likely to be a part. It is in America’s best interest to begin training with Taiwan due to the escalating tensions between the island and Chinese aggressors.
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This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://ogles.house.gov/media/press-releases/ogles-passes-eight-amendments-through-house-most-among-freshman-members