{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://tsongas.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=49&itemid=1088", "Tsongas statement urging Congress to pass NDAA", "2013-12-09", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "MA", "Niki Tsongas", "T000465", "tsongas.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC\u2013 December 9, 2013 \u2013 Today, the leaders of the Senate and House Armed Services Committees called upon their colleagues to pass a National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) before Congress adjourns for the year.\r\n\r\n\tFor the past 51 years, Congress has annually passed an NDAA, which authorizes funding and sets policy for the Department of Defense. The House of Representatives passed its version of the FY2014 NDAA on June 14, 2013. The full Senate has not voted on the FY2014 NDAA.\r\n\r\n\tCongresswoman Niki Tsongas, the Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations and the co-chair of the Military Sexual Assault Prevention Caucus, released the following statement. \r\n\r\n\t\u201cCongress has come together every year for half a century to pass the NDAA and support our men and women in uniform. With numerous critical provisions and protections included in this legislation, this year should not be any different.\r\n\r\n\t\u201cBy not passing an NDAA, we are denying needed resources to servicemembers, as well as impacting incentives for those serving in some of the most dangerous circumstances around the globe. That is not the way to serve those who so selflessly serve their country.\r\n\r\n\t\u201cFor example, this year\u2019s NDAA includes numerous provisions from the Better Enforcement for Sexual Assault Free Environments Act of 2013, coauthored by myself and Rep. Mike Turner, that combat military sexual assault. For example, the bill removes the ability of a commander to overturn a jury verdict and mandates a dishonorable discharge for those convicted of sexual assault among many additional needed changes.\r\n\r\n\t\u201cDuring a time of economic austerity, the NDAA is necessary to make sure that the Pentagon continues many important sexual assault prevention measures that expand support for survivors, such as the successful Special Victims Counsel program, that if not mandated by law, could fall by the wayside.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\t\u201cI echo the sentiments of Chairman McKeon, Chairman Levin, Ranking Member Smith and Ranking Member Inhofe. For the benefit of our men and women in uniform, I urge House and Senate leadership to put aside partisan politics and come together around compromise legislation.\u201d\r\n\r\n\t\u00a0\r\n\r\n\t####", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://tsongas.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=49&itemid=1088"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.9099708404392004, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}