(Originally was going to call it Nancy’s News or Pelosi’s Post with a date at the end, but decided to KISS) So, I was thinking back to a comment/conversation I had or read with someone (CwV?), where they made the comment that we needed to read the updates from Madam Speaker to actually learn what she has been doing. Surely, I thought, if she were doing such a thing, someone here would post a diary about it. Easy peasy, right? Thought so too. Now, I am sure everyone knows my sentiment from all the snarky comments I have made (yeah, I kinda pile on too). But those comments got me thinking: Where does change come from? It comes from us, all of us. If we don’t like something, it falls on us to make the changes and to be that change, or at least try. Still gonna call out lack of action though
To that end, I am going to try to start a weekly (depending on the releases) post of Madam Speaker Pelosi’s news releases, starting with this from July 12, 2019:
Contact: Speaker’s Press Office,
202-226-7616
Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued this statement after the passage of a National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that authorizes the funding needed for a smart, strong national defense strategy:
“This bill is a victory for our national security, our Founding values and the American people. Democrats take great pride in the strength and unity of our Caucus in crafting this strong legislation for America, which reverses years of Republican uncertainty and instability in the defense budget and restores the responsible budgeting needed for a strong, safe and smart defense.
“We salute the relentless, patriotic work of Chairman Smith to craft this strong legislation. This bill honors our responsibilities to our servicemembers and families, including with an urgently-needed pay raise, and keeps America safe with critical steps to promote collaboration with our allies, harden our defenses against hostile foreign powers, increase congressional oversight over the President’s military actions and meet the challenges of the future, including the climate crisis. This bill also protects children facing appalling conditions at the border, by prohibiting DOD funds from being used to house unaccompanied children forcibly separated from their parent and increasing Congress’s oversight over housing conditions for children.
“The country has been strengthened by the unifying work of many Members to craft amendments to this legislation that honor our values and advance our security. These amendments include prohibiting federal funds from being used for any military force against Iran without congressional authorization, supporting transgender patriots in our military, strengthening paid family leave and survivor benefits, and more. We applaud all the Members whose leadership continues to be critical in advancing America’s security.
“Democrats will always stand unified in support of a strong national defense that honors our values, protects the American people and advances our leadership in the world.”
# # #
Little tidbits from it that I found about the wall funding (I had heard vague references to these, hope they survive the Budget Wars):
Title X—General Provisions
Subtitle E—Miscellaneous Authorities and Limitations
Sec. 1046.
Prohibition on use of funds for construction of a wall, fence, or other physical barrier along the southern border of the United States
(a)
Prohibition
National defense funds may not be obligated, expended, or otherwise used to design or carry out a project to construct, replace, or modify a wall, fence, or other physical barrier along the international border between the United States and Mexico.
(b)
National defense funds defined
In this section, the term national defense funds means—
(1)
amounts authorized to be appropriated for any purpose in this division or authorized to be appropriated in division A of any National Defense Authorization Act for any of fiscal years 2015 through 2019, including any amounts of such an authorization made available to the Department of Defense and transferred to another authorization by the Secretary of Defense pursuant to transfer authority available to the Secretary; and
(2)
funds appropriated in any Act pursuant to an authorization of appropriations described in paragraph (1).
Title XXVIII—Military Construction General Provisions
Subtitle A-Military Construction Program Changes
Section 2801.
Prohibition on use of military construction funds for construction of a wall, fence, or other physical barrier along the southern border of the United States
(a)
Prohibition
Military construction funds may not be obligated, expended, or otherwise used to design or carry out a project to construct, replace, or modify a wall, fence, or other physical barrier along the international border between the United States and Mexico.
(b)
Definitions
In this section:
(1)
Military construction funds
The term military construction funds means—
(A)
amounts authorized to be appropriated for a military construction project authorized in this division or authorized in any Military Construction Authorization Act for any of fiscal years 2015 through 2019, including any amounts of such an authorization made available to the Department of Defense and transferred to another authorization by the Secretary of Defense pursuant to transfer authority available to the Secretary; and
(B)
funds appropriated in any Act for a military construction project described in subparagraph (A).
(2)
Military construction project
The term military construction project has the meaning given that term in section 2801 of title 10, United States Code.
And now off to run away and take mom and brother to breakfast