House Passes Defense Bill
Key Bishop Provision on Sage Grouse Included
WASHINGTON— In an effort to fulfill one of its most important constitutional obligations, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2016. Rep. Rob Bishop (UT-01), a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, voted to pass the bill and offered the following statement:
“This year’s NDAA authorizes defense measures that will enhance safeguards designed to protect American interests both within the U.S. and abroad. This legislation will – among other important things
– strengthen our national defense, bolster the mission to defeat ISIL, enhance the nation’s cyber security, and improve pay and benefits for our troops and their families.”
The Obama Administration has criticized much of this military bill, including an amendment added by Rep. Bishop which aims to protect military ranges and installations from encroachments due to the improper use of the Endangered Species Act. The language prevents, for now, a declaration of the sage grouse as an endangered species. Such a listing would limit military access to critical facilities and training areas. Rep. Bishop stated the following:
“Not only would such a designation impede the readiness of our military, but it would also undermine the ability of the states to take care of themselves and properly manage this bird. There are already examples of federal management of this species creating problems for our military to properly train. There are also ample examples of state plans successfully managing and conserving sage grouse populations. The language I included in the NDAA forces the Administration to give states and the military a chance to do what they do best.”
The NDAA for fiscal year 2016 also provides funding authorization for the first operational F-35 wing which is expected to arrive at Utah’s Hill Air Force Base in the fall of this year.
