WASHINGTON, DC – Over the weekend I received some messages from constituents expressing concerns about my vote for the FY22 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) after seeing misleading reports concerning a red flag provision within the bill. I want to be very clear: if you’re reading that support for this year’s NDAA equals support for red flag gun laws, you’re reading fake news.

I consistently vote against bills that infringe on my constituents’ gun rights and make it more difficult for law-abiding Ohioans to defend themselves and their families. As a strong supporter of the Second Amendment, I was proud to join the majority of my Republican colleagues, as well as over 50 veterans currently serving in Congress, in supporting this year’s NDAA.

Yes, the House Democrats included a provision that would allow the military to temporarily remove firearms from a servicemember who presents a danger to themselves or others. But what these reports have neglected to include is the fact that Democrats have placed this provision in nearly every NDAA since Nancy Pelosi was re-elected as Speaker of the House. And every time they do, it is stripped out of the final version in conference with the U.S. Senate.

It’s important to note that as it currently stands, the FY22 NDAA includes a number of critical provisions that:

• reverse President Biden’s reckless cuts to our national security by boosting the defense topline by nearly $25 billion;
• authorize a 2.7% pay increase for servicemembers and extends military recruitment and retention bonuses and special pay authorities;
• prohibit a dishonorable discharge for servicemembers who refuse a COVID-19 vaccination and requires uniform procedures for vaccine exemptions;
• require DoD and DNI to assess the involvement of the Chinese Communist Party in the origins of COVID-19;
• prohibit the transfer of Guantanamo detainees to any country that is a state sponsor of terrorism;
• strengthen homeland security by directing additional National Guard resources to the border;
• preserve servicemembers’ free speech rights by protecting them from being punished for political statements on social media accounts; and
• establish an independent suicide prevention and response review committee to address veteran suicide.

Anyone who chose to leave out these critical facts in their reporting made the deliberate decision to mislead Americans with their inaccuracy. For eight years I have voted to support our troops, defend the Second Amendment, and ensure America’s military readiness. That has not and will not change. I look forward to negotiating the final version of the FY22 NDAA with my colleagues in the Senate so that we can fully fund America’s defense needs for the coming year.

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