2015: Schweikert Voted Against Reducing The Number Of Aircraft Carriers That The Navy Has To Have From Eleven To Ten. In May 2015, Schweikert voted against an amendment that would have, according to Congressional Quarterly, "reduce[d] from 11 to 10 the statutory requirement for the number of operational carriers that the U.S. Navy must have." The underlying legislation was an FY 2016 defense authorization. The vote was on the amendment. The House rejected the amendment by a vote of 60 to 363. [House Vote 228, 5/14/15; Congressional Quarterly, 5/14/15; Congressional Actions, H. Amdt. 217; Congressional Actions, H.R. 1735]
2013: Schweikert Voted Against Reducing From Eleven To Ten The Number Of Aircraft Carriers The Navy Must Maintain. In June 2013, Schweikert voted against an amendment that would have, according to Congressional Quarterly, "reduce[d] from 11 to 10 the statutory requirement for the number of operational aircraft carriers that the Navy must maintain." The underlying legislation was an FY 2014 defense authorization. The vote was on the amendment. The House rejected the amendment by a vote of 106 to 318. [House Vote 222, 6/13/13; Congressional Quarterly, 6/13/13; Congressional Actions, H. Amdt. 142; Congressional Actions, H.R. 1960]
2019: Schweikert Effectively Voted For The FY 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Which Authorized Funding For Weapons Systems. In December 2019, Schweikert effectively voted for the FY 2020 NDAA. According to Congressional Quarterly, "The agreement authorizes approximately $11 billion for ballistic-missile defense, including Theater High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) and Patriot interceptors and other anti-missile systems. It authorizes funding for missile defense installations in Poland, Romania and Hawaii, as well as funds for cooperative missile defense programs with Israel. It authorizes $12.2 billion for procurement and development of 90 new F-35 planes, including additional funds to purchase F-35s previously scheduled for delivery to Turkey. It authorizes $986 million for eight new F-15 aircraft, and $23.6 billion for Navy shipbuilding, including over $10 billion for new submarines. It also authorizes $3 billion for a new long range bomber and authorizes large increases in funding for high-speed "hypersonic" weapons." The vote was on adoption of the conference report to accompany the bill. The House adopted the conference report by a vote of 377-48. The bill was later passed by the Senate and signed into law by the President. [House Vote 672, 12/11/19; Congressional Quarterly, 12/17/19; Congressional Actions, S.1790]
2020: Schweikert Voted Against Banning Trump From Conducting Nuclear Weapons Tests. In July 2020, Schweikert voted against an amendment to the FY 2021 NDAA that would, according to Congressional Quarterly, "prohibit the use of funds authorized for fiscal 2021 or any previous year to conduct or make preparations for any explosive nuclear weapons test that produces any yield." The vote was on adoption. The House adopted the amendment by a vote of 215-190. [House Vote 142, 7/20/20; Congressional Quarterly, 7/20/20; Congressional Actions, H.Amdt.834; Congressional Actions, H.R.6395]
The Amendment Prevented Trump From Conducting The First Nuclear Tests In The U.S. In Decades. According to The Hill, "The House approved Monday a measure aimed at preventing President Trump from conducting the United States' first explosive nuclear test in decades." [The Hill, 7/20/20]
The Amendment Was In Conflict With The Senate NDAA, Which Included $10 Million For Nuclear Testing. According to The Hill, "Inclusion of the prohibition in the House version of the NDAA sets up a conflict with the Senate's version of the bill that will need to be reconciled before it is sent to the president's desk. The Senate's version of the NDAA includes an amendment from Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) that would make at least $10 million available to 'carry out projects related to reducing the time required to execute a nuclear test if necessary.'" [The Hill, 7/20/20]
Opponents Worried That U.S. Nuclear Testing Would Trigger A Chain Reaction In Other Countries And Also Have Detrimental Health And Environmental Effects. According to The Hill, "Opponents of resuming nuclear testing, including Democrats and arms control advocates, argue a U.S. test would trigger nuclear testing by other countries and open the door to an arms race. An explosive would also be detrimental to human health and the environment without providing any benefits to studying the U.S. nuclear arsenal, they argue." [The Hill, 7/20/20]