{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://watkins.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-steve-watkins-signs-conference-report-national-defense", "Congressman Steve Watkins Signs Conference Report on National Defense Authorization Act", "2019-12-12", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Steven Watkins", "W000824", "watkins.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Press Contact:Dylan.Jones@mail.house.gov\n\nFor Immediate Release:\nDecember 12, 2019\n\nCongressman Steve Watkins Signs Conference Report on National Defense Authorization Act\n\nWashington, D.C. On December 9th, Congressman Steve Watkins (KS-02) signed the Conference Report on the FY20 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that passed the full House on Wednesday. The NDAA establishes policy and authorizes funding for our nation's defense. Congressman Watkins was selected by House Republican Leadership to serve as the House Veterans' Affairs Committee conferee for the NDAA Conference Committee. The Conference Committee is tasked with resolving differences between the House and Senate versions of the NDAA and providing an agreement to both chambers in the form of a conference report. If the full House and Senate each agree to the conference report, the NDAA is sent to the President to be signed into law.\n\nCongressman SteveWatkinsissued the following statement:\nAs a conferee, ensuring veterans' issues were addressed and continuing the modernization of our military to compete with threats from Russia, Iran, and China were top priorities of mine. This year's NDAA delivers on President Trump's key promises for robust defense spending, support for our veterans, the largest pay-raise for our troops in a decade, and the much anticipated Space Force. I am glad that President Trump and the Conference Committee are able to deliver a win for our military and veterans heading into the holiday. \n\nIn case you missed it, Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and Ranking Member Dr. Phil Roe (R-Tenn) released the following statements upon the selection of Rep. Watkins as a conferee on the Conference Committee. \n\nLeader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA)issued the following statement:\nI am glad to have Steve on this year's list of conferees. Though he is new to Congress, he has already served this nation for several years as a West Point cadet and combat veteran in Afghanistan. He is fully committed to strengthening our national defense and has demonstrated a clear desire to improve the lives of veterans. I have no doubt that he will work hard to ensure that the needs of our troops come first.\n\nCommittee on Veterans' Affairs Ranking Member Dr. Phil Roe (R-Tenn)issued the following statement:\nI congratulate my friend and fellow Veterans' Affairs Committee Member, Rep. Steve Watkins, on being selected as a conferee for the House-Senate Conference Committee for the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). As a veteran himself, Steve has been a strong voice on the Committee on behalf of his fellow veterans and I am confident that he will provide an important and unique perspective during these discussions, which are vital to the continued security of our nation.\n\n###", 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://watkins.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-steve-watkins-signs-conference-report-national-defense"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.7524359282106161, "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"}