Congressman Pannetta introduces 2 amendments to NDAA

District 20 Congressman Jimmy Panetta, as a member of the House Armed Services Committee, introduced a couple of amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) on Thursday, May 17. The first would prohibit funds from being used to hold a child at Department of Defense facilities if a child has been separated from his or her parent by immigration officials or due to prosecution of a parent for unlawful entry under the Immigration and Naturalization Act. This comes after reports that Health and Human Services plans on inspecting 4 military bases to house children. Congressman Panetta believes that families should not be separated due to immigration procedural logistics, saying that contradicts American values. Prosecuting parents for border crossing and separating them from their children should not be used as a deterrent to family migration. This practice suggests a lack of understanding about the violence many families are fleeing in their home countries and should not be expanded. The second amendment Congressman Panetta co-introduced would allow qualified undocumented immigrants to enlist and serve in the U.S. military. After honorably and patriotically serving the only country they have ever known, these individuals would be eligible to adjust their legal status. Congressman Panetta believes that this amendment will improve military readiness. The deadline to file amendments for the NDAA was at 7 am Pacific time on Thursday, May 17. Congressman Panetta will likely know by Monday, May 21 if the amendments have been included in the NDAA.