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Congressman Mike Turner (OH-3), Chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, released the following statement upon the passage of the FY 2013 National Defense Authorization Act:

"This year House Republicans have continued to support our men and women in uniform while ensuring the safety and security of this nation. As the Chairman of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee I have sought to place an emphasis on a number of issues which are confronting our national security structure including: missile defense, modernization of our nuclear enterprise, and reform of bureaucratic entities such as the National Nuclear Security Administration.

Congressman Mike Turner has successfully included several provisions in the House passed National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which will have a far reaching impact on Southwest Ohio and Wright-Patterson AFB if approved by the Senate and signed into law by the President. The bill passed the House today on a bipartisan vote of 299-120. Turner's amendments to the annual Defense Department authorization bill include provisions which will protect jobs at WPAFB, promote collaboration on Unmanned Aerial Systems, and strengthen NASIC.

Protecting Jobs at Wright-Patt

Congressman Mike Turner (OH-3) took issue with Vice President Biden's comments that the loss of Delphi Salaried Retirees pensions did not come as a result of the auto bailout, and that the Administration doesn't "control" the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC).

In a Committee Report released by the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies, the subcommittee expressed concerns about the state of our Foreign Materiel Exploitation Labs. The report, which is tied to FY 2013 funding for construction, comes on the heels of a visit to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base by Subcommittee Chairman John Culberson (TX-7).

Today, Congressman Mike Turner wrote to House Oversight and Government Reform Chairman Darrell Issa to express his "serious concerns" with the refusal of former Auto Task Force members to meet or speak with the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (SIGTARP) regarding their involvement in the unjust termination of Delphi retiree pensions.

"Because SIGTARP does not possess testimonial subpoena authority, I am requesting that the Committee on Oversight & Government Reform interview these individuals concerning the role they played in the decision to take the retirement and health benefits of these retirees," wrote Turner.

Congressman Mike Turner (OH-3) offered an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2013 Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (H.R. 5326) to increase by $5 million the minimum level of funding that the International Trade Administration (ITA) must devote to crack down on unfair Chinese trade practices. The amendment was adopted by voice vote today and included in the full bill which awaits approval by the full House.

Congressman Mike Turner wrote to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta requesting an update on how the Department is implementing a new prohibition on the naming of Department of Defense (DoD) property after a sitting Member of Congress. Turner included the language in the FY 2012 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to prevent conflicts of interest between Members and projects funded by taxpayers.