Memos

July 13, 2023

The NDAA presents an opportunity for Republicans to enact legislation that will enhance our armed forces, strengthen our national defense, and promote peace at home and abroad. As the House continues its consideration of the FY24 re-authorization, Advancing American Freedom is calling on Members to support the following amendments that advance the policy priorities outlined in our Freedom Agenda and Future of Freedom legislative agendas.

Life and Values

• Jackson #377: Prohibits the Secretary of Defense from paying for or reimbursing expenses relating to abortion services.
• Norman #30: Prohibits provision of gender transition procedures, including surgery or medication, through the Exceptional Family Member Program.
• Jackson #394: Prohibits any adverse actions against cadets or midshipmen based on their COVID-19 vaccination status. Further, states that an individual may not be denied admission at a service academy based on their COVID-19 vaccination status.
• Banks #1006: Amends service reinstatement and protection provisions in the FY2024 NDAA for service members who refused Covid vaccination to also include members of the Coast Guard.
• Roy #363: Prohibits funds authorized for DoDEA from being used to promote that idea that, 1) Any race is inherently superior or inferior to any other race, color, or national origin. 2) The US is a fundamentally racist country. 3) The Declaration of Independence or the US Constitution are racist documents, 4) An individual’s moral character or worth is determined by the individual’s race, color, or national origin. 5) An individual, by virtue of the individual’s race, is inherently racist or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously. 6) An individual, because of the individual’s race, bears responsibility for the actions committed by other members of the individual’s race, color, or national origin.

China and Foreign Policy

• Gallagher #389: Prohibits the U.S. government and those that contract with the U.S. government from acquiring genetic sequencing equipment from Beijing Genomics Institute (BGI) and its subsidiaries.
• McClain #515: Prohibits funding to the Wuhan Institute of Virology, as well as EcoHealth Alliance, any subsidiary of EcoHealth Alliance, any organization directly controlled by EcoHealth Alliance, or any organization or individual that is a subgrantee or subcontractor of EcoHealth Alliance.
• Williams #582: Prohibits any form of support or direct involvement by federal agencies in research that is conducted by the Chinese government, the Chinese Communist Party, or any of their affiliated agents, instruments, or entities.
• Good #693: Requires the Secretary of Defense to provide a report to Congress within one year of enactment on the extent to which Communist China has benefited from taxpayer funded research. This report would include a list of United States Government-funded entities, such as research institutions, laboratories, and institutions of higher education, which have hired Chinese nationals or allowed Chinese nationals to conduct research, including an estimate in the number of nationals hired or involved in research projects.
• Gallagher #1029: Directs the Department of Defense Inspector General to determine the total amount of DOD dollars paid to EcoHealth Alliance, the Wuhan Institute of Virology, or any other labor organization affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party.
• DesJarlais #79: Prohibits funds authorized in this bill from being used to further any nuclear agreement with Iran that has not received explicit Congressional approval.

Resources
Freedom Agenda
Future of Freedom: Countering China
Future of Freedom: Defending Life & Religious Liberty
Advancing American Freedom – Policy Advocacy

Please contact John Shelton (jshelton@advancingamericanfreedom.com) with any questions.

Download the memo here.