“Our troops pledge their lives to the defense of our nation, and this bill gives them more support to perform that vital mission. I’m pleased that this year’s NDAA also ensures Arkansas remains a leader in our national defense by continued improvements Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith, upgrading to the Red River Army Depot, and emphasizing the importance of Pine Bluff Arsenal. This year’s bill also included my provision that the Department of Defense cannot give contracts to tutoring services connected to Communist China and ensured that our nation’s heroes are buried at Arlington National Cemetery with the military honors that they have earned and deserve. While I’m disappointed it does not provide an increase in funding needed to field badly needed additional weapons, I’m pleased the bill excludes the Democrat’s idea to force women into the draft and protects children from irreversible medical treatments pushed by radical gender-theory ideologues.”