WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, released the following statement on the inclusion of his Audit the Pentagon amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which the House passed today.

“Fiscal responsibility is a critical component of our national security. The Audit the Pentagon amendment, which was included in the NDAA for Fiscal Year 2018, requires the Department of Defense to rank in order of audit readiness every entity that is required to provide financial statements for the overall effort of the Department of Defense-wide audit. I am pleased that this important provision was included for the third time in the annual defense authorization bill.

“The Pentagon must be held to the same level of accountability as other federal agencies when it comes to spending taxpayer dollars. This important measure will bring the Pentagon into compliance with current law, and ensure that defense resources are being used appropriately. Quite simply, auditing the Pentagon will reinforce our national security and improve our care for the American men and women in uniform.”