Washington, DC – Today, two measures introduced by Representative Lois Frankel (FL-21) to strengthen national security passed in the House as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2020.

The first provision prevents President Trump from plunging the United States and Russia into a new nuclear arms race. It prohibits funding to produce or deploy missiles that were banned under the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty and requires the Administration to demonstrate that it is pursuing diplomatic and strategic options to lessen the risks following Trump’s withdrawal from the treaty.

“The world already has enough nuclear weapons to destroy civilization. With this provision, we’re opting for diplomacy instead of nuclear proliferation,” said Congresswoman Frankel.

The bill also includes a section from the Women and Countering Violent Extremism Act, which Representative Frankel co-introduced. This piece of the legislation authorizes research on the intersection of gender and violent extremism and terrorism, including the relationship between terrorism and gender-based violence, women’s empowerment at the household level, and adolescent girls’ empowerment.

“This proposal will improve U.S. counterterrorism and peacebuilding efforts by focusing on women’s roles as victims, perpetrators, and preventers of violent extremism,” said Frankel.

Frankel continued, “This NDAA works For The People to strengthen our national and economic security. It ensures 12 full weeks of paid parental leave for workers across the federal government and keeps us safe by empowering women around the world, reducing wasteful spending, and advancing our leadership on the global stage.”

The legislation passed the House by a vote of 337 to 48. It will now go to the Senate for final passage.

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