THE “ANTI” NATIONAL DEFENSE ACT OF 2020 – A BLOATED MONSTER

https://www.hagmannreport.com/the-anti-national-defense-act-of-2020-a-bloated-monster/



THE “ANTI” NATIONAL DEFENSE ACT OF 2020 – A BLOATED MONSTER

By
 Douglas J. Hagmann
 -
December 19, 2019


T’was the week before Christmas and all through the House, creatures were stirring, blowing smoke up your… blouse. Okay, so I’m not a poet, but I’d like to turn your attention to the House, Senate and President Trump outside of the topic of impeachment.
The following bit of information will be difficult to wrap your head around, unless of course, you are working inside the bubble of Washington, DC as a denizen of the deep state. While most Americans seem to be oblivious to the sham impeachment proceedings of President Donald Trump, others have been wrapped up in its various nuances. Meanwhile, it’s business as usual in the swamp.
It has been historically proven that the best time to slip potentially unpopular legislation through is to do so while the minds of everyday Americans are already focused on the upcoming holidays. This year, it’s no different.
Consider that the bloated 3,465-page National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for 2020 will be submitted for President Trump’s signature. While praising and promoting a pay raise for our troops, which is a good thing, few will bother to read this monstrous piece of legislation in its entirety. Who could blame you?
Granted, there is so much wrong with the NDAA that it is difficult to know where to begin. There are a few items, however, that are so antithetical to the very name and nature of the bill that it would be a mistake not to point them out in greater detail. There are, however, two extremely disconcerting subjects within the bill that just jump from the pages, begging for exposure. Although Daniel Horowitz of Conservative Review does a great job explaining these two issues here, it is still difficult to understand how a “national defense bill” could possibly be so… indefensible, especially when it contains provisions – in direct defiance of its very name – that are an inherent threat to our national security.
First, consider that a provision within the bill titled the “Fair Chance Act” (page 1,014 for those playing along at home) prohibits the federal government from asking whether an applicant has a criminal record. This also extends to companies that perform subcontracting work to the federal government.
Let me get this straight. If you are a convicted felon and want a job with the federal government or a company that performs subcontracting work for the federal government, this provision of the NDAA prohibits the government or your prospective employer from asking you about your criminal history. Even worse, this is contained in a national defense bill.
Secondly, the NDAA conference report contains a provision titled “Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness” on page 2,659. This provision certainly does not enhance the security of the United States and arguably does not belong in anything having “national defense” in its title. This permits Liberian refugees here, in the United States illegally since 2014 or before, amnesty and a pathway to citizenship.
Considering both provisions, I ask you, the reader: What could possibly go wrong?
Despite these two slip ‘n slide provisions, President Trump will most assuredly sign the massive bill while boasting that it gives pay raises to our troops.
To echo the words penned by Daniel Horowitz, 
“Mr. President, don’t reward those impeaching you with all their budget and policy priorities. Make your veto pen great again.”