When I was elected to serve the people of Iowa’s Fourth Congressional District, I swore an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States of America. That oath includes my unwavering commitment to our men and women in uniform who are willing to sacrifice their lives to protect our families and defend our freedoms. On this promise, I will never falter.

Upholding my commitment to our troops, I voted for the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This legislation fully funds the deployment of the U.S. National Guard to help secure our southern border, allows states to use materials rusting at the border for construction of the wall, and delivers the largest pay raise — a 5.2 percent increase — for our troops in over 20 years.

It also includes language from my Defend America’s Rural Energy Act, which bans China from buying American farmland suitable for homegrown Iowa ethanol and biodiesel production. China has deployed spy balloons in our sovereign airspace, surveilled our military bases, and infiltrated our schools. We cannot let our foreign adversaries — especially China — buy our fertile and bountiful farmland.

This bill includes other provisions to strengthen our position against China. It fully funds military exercises with our allies to counter China’s increasingly hostile threats and dangerous actions in the Pacific, prioritizes the use of advanced radar systems to track and monitor high-altitude spy balloons like the one that China deployed earlier this year in our airspace, and bans the U.S. Department of Defense from contracting with firms linked to the Chinese Communist Party.

Additionally, it extends TRICARE benefits to three years for families of servicemembers who were deployed for fewer than 30 days and were killed in the line of duty. We can never truly repay our troops who made the ultimate sacrifice and their families who have endured unthinkable heartbreak, but ensuring that military families receive the high-quality health care that they deserve is one way to express our gratitude and appreciation. This package also authorizes the construction of new housing for military families and ensures that our troops are regularly scanned by medical professionals for complications from chemical and other toxic exposure.

The NDAA further eliminates many ridiculous policies from President Biden’s radical social agenda. It bans the teaching of critical race theory on military bases and at military schools, reinstates servicemembers who were wrongfully terminated for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine, and freezes hiring for DEI positions in the military. It also prevents the Biden administration from electrifying our tanks, trucks, and jeeps and stops President Biden’s Green New Deal agenda that seeks to destroy American energy production and make our country reliant on foreign oil and gas.

Moreover, this legislation includes a Parents Bill of Rights — which House Republicans passed in March — to enshrine the right of every parent to be involved in their children’s education and review teaching materials and books.

Protecting our families and our communities is one of the most solemn responsibilities of Congress. The NDAA equips our troops with the resources they need to defend our nation from terrorists, drug traffickers, and our foreign enemies. While China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea make significant investments in their military capabilities, we cannot fall behind. With my vote, our military will remain the strongest, most feared fighting force the world has ever known.

U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra, R-Hull, represents Iowa’s Fourth Congressional District.