Congressman Mike Rogers made the following statement today after the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) passed out of committee the Fiscal Year 2018 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

The bill passed last night authorizes funds for base budget requirements of $631.5 billion, including a $28.5 billion increase for essential readiness recovery above the initial budget request. The bill passed with Rogers’ full support.

The legislation included language important for the Third Congressional District that affects the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) and the Anniston Army Depot (ANAD).

The amendment would compel the Army to release M1911A1 pistols to the CMP. Transferring these vintage pistols to the CMP would allow them to inspect, grade, prepare for sale and sell these pistols. The CMP would reimburse the Army for costs associated with the transferring of the pistols. CMP South, headquartered in Anniston, Alabama, oversees sales. Similar language has been in the last two NDAAs, but the previous Obama Administration would not allow the Army to deliver the pistols to the CMP for political reasons.

Rogers’ amendment, supported by the NRA, authorizes and directs the Army to complete the delivery.

“I am thrilled my amendment on 1911 pistols passed the committee. The fight for this is still not over, but I will continue to push this issue as the legislation moves to the House floor. The real battle will be in Conference with the Senate,” Rogers said.

The NDAA also included language that would further strengthen ANAD.

One provision extends the authority of the Department of Defense to pay depot employees deployed to combat zones additional allowances and benefits because of the dangerous nature of their locations.

A second provision extends authority for another year to make it easier for the depot to consider temporary and term employees for permanent positions.

Language was also included to study some of the funding mechanisms of the depot in hopes of using the information to make workload planning more dependable and consistent.

“The men and women and the Anniston Army Depot work very hard to support our nation’s warfighter and I want to ensure we are doing everything we can in Congress to support them,” Rogers said.

Rogers is a senior member of HASC and Chairman of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee.

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