Washington, D.C. – This afternoon, the House of Representatives approved H.R. 2647, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010. This legislation is the annual policy and funding blueprint for the national security programs and policies of the Department of Defense, and includes initiatives authored by Third District Representative Walter B. Jones (R-NC). H.R. 2647 passed by a vote of 281-146.

Because of the Congressional Democrat Leadership’s decision to add to H.R. 2647 totally extraneous provisions that would expand federal authority to prosecute so-called “Hate Crimes”, Congressman Jones and the majority of House Republicans voted against the bill. The “Hate Crimes” provisions raise the possibility that religious leaders or members of religious groups could be prosecuted criminally based on their speech or other protected activities; create unequal treatment of victims by treating crimes against protected groups more seriously than non-protected groups; encroach on jurisdiction traditionally reserved to the States; and violate the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution which affords equal protection to every citizen under the law.

“I was appalled that the Democrat Leadership chose to include ‘Hate Crimes’ expansion in the National Defense Authorization Bill. It is a sad day when Congress uses America’s military men and women to advance one party’s radical social agenda. If the Democrat Leadership thinks the American people elected them to expand federal ‘Hate Crimes’ authority, they should have the courage to attempt to pass the bill on its own merits, rather than hide the provision on a bill to fund our military,” Congressman Jones said.

While H.R. 2647 contains many provisions, Congressman Jones – who proudly represents Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base and Marine Corps Air Station New River – authored key initiatives on behalf of the military and his constituents that were included in the bill. One such provision is language based on Congressman Jones’ H.R. 1701, the PTSD/TBI Guaranteed Review for Heroes Act, which would mandate a medical examination for service members who are facing an administrative separation due to misconduct, and claim or have been diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or traumatic brain injury (TBI). This examination would assess the degree to which the behavior of the service member has been affected by PTSD or TBI. Additionally, a review of previous discharges is authorized to ensure that PTSD and TBI were taken into account.

“Many of our brave men and women in the Armed Services are facing difficult circumstances upon returning from a combat zone to the United States,” Jones said. “We must ensure that actions which may endanger their eligibility for treatment for PTSD or TBI are given full consideration by the appropriate medical official.”