Velázquez Introduces Amendments for Defense Spending Legislation

WASHINGTON - Today, Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) submitted and cosponsored amendments to the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) intended to prevent U.S. Military intervention in Latin America, protect human rights, secure equitable health care for servicemembers and families in Puerto Rico, improve accountability at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and support small government contractors.

The Rules Committee is set to review these proposals today ahead of a vote on the full defense bill later this week.

The amendments introduced by Rep. Velázquez include:

• Velázquez 508- Codifies the current procedures used to determine when a government contract will be set aside for a small business competition.
• Velázquez 550- Makes adjustments to certain acquisition thresholds for contracts awarded to small businesses.
• Velázquez 579- Prohibits military action in Mexico in violation of Congress's constitutional war powers.
• Velázquez 972- Requires HUD rules to be reviewed and commented on by the majority and minority of the House Financial Services Committee and Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs before taking effect.

Rep. Velázquez also cosponsored the following amendments:

• Ocasio-Cortez 271- Requires a report on the environmental and public health social and economic impacts of abandoned military bases.
• Ocasio-Cortez 630- Requires a declassification review of documents related to the U.S.'s involvement in Chile's coup of 1973.
• Casar 883- Prohibits funds from being used for unauthorized military force against Venezuela.
• Hernández 942- Directs the Department of Defense to administer TRICARE Prime in Puerto Rico on the same basis as in the States and ensures access to travel and transportation allowances for covered beneficiaries.

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