Congressman Ted Deutch (FL-21) issued this statement on his vote against the National Defense Authorization Act of 2015:

"I voted against the NDAA because it forces us to spend billions of dollars on outdated weapons systems that the Pentagon says we no longer need and prevents the long-overdue closure of the detention facilities at Guantanamo Bay. 

"The continued operation of the prison facilities at Guantanamo Bay is fiscally irresponsible and morally indefensible. Our justice system has proven more than capable at effectively prosecuting terrorists, having handled nearly 500 terrorism cases since 9/11. Furthermore, the indefinite detention of detainees at Guantanamo fuels the recruitment efforts of terrorist organizations bent on killing Americans and undermines our moral leadership throughout the world. 

"This year’s defense authorization bill also blatantly overrides the recommendations of our military leaders. By reinstating $50 billion in cuts to outdated weapons systems, this legislation limits the Department of Defense’s efforts to retool itself and confront the national security challenges of the 21st century.

"Making modest reductions to our military spending as we wind down the longest war in our history does not endanger our national security. Scaling the overall size of our Army in the next five years is a commonsense reduction that maintains the American military as the most capable and powerful in the world.

"The American people do not support perpetual war and nor should our budget. Our current fiscal situation demands we make strategic choices in domestic and military spending in order to maintain our national security, and make the investments in home that advance the American people’s financial security."