Strong’s FINISH IT Act included in NDAA Conference Report

WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Dale Strong’s (AL-05) FINISH IT Act has been included in the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). 

Once implemented, the FINISH IT Act, will override the Biden administration’s decision to allow millions of dollars' worth of U.S. - Mexico border wall materials to go to waste. 

“Every penny that goes to the Department of Defense should be used to best prepare our men and women in uniform to protect the United States,” said Representative Strong, “President Biden’s use of defense funds to indefinitely store unused border materials is an irresponsible misuse of resources during the ongoing crisis at the border and a pivotal time for U.S. national security.”  

Since March 2021 with the halt of southwest border wall construction, the Biden administration has allowed more than $300 million of the Department of Defense’s budget to pay for storage of the unused border wall materials.  

Strong, a member of the House Armed Services and Homeland Security Committees, partnered with Senate Armed Services Committee Ranking Member, Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) for a standalone provision (H.R. 5130 / S. 4198) and for the FY24 NDAA.  

"It is astounding to me that the Department of Defense is paying $130,000 per day to do nothing with $300 million worth of border wall materials," Wicker said. "This clear example of government waste is holding back our mission to protect American citizens and American security. President Biden appears to prefer spending money to avoid building the wall, rather than protect Americans from cartels." 

The House and Senate are set to vote on the FY24 NDAA later this week.