Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. French Hill (AR-02) released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023 by a bipartisan vote of 350-80.

“Protecting the American people and ensuring we have a strong national defense is one of our greatest responsibilities as members of Congress. I stood on behalf of our brave men and women in uniform who serve our nation to certify that this year’s NDAA addressed the concerns of our servicemembers across the country.

“This legislation directly benefits our personnel at Little Rock Air Force Base and at the Arkansas National Guard by increasing pay for all members of our military, repealing the Biden Administration’s wrongful COVID-19 vaccine mandate, and creating further opportunities for those interested in joining the service. I will always fight for legislation that prioritizes our military families both here in central Arkansas and throughout this great nation.

“My bill to disrupt and dismantle the Assad regime’s production and trafficking of the lethal narcotic Captagon was included. I am proud of this accomplishment and will continue to work tirelessly to prevent the Assad regime from furthering their influence and the international prevalence of Captagon.”

Further Background on the CAPTAGON Act:

• On November 16, 2021, Rep. Hill outlined his amendment to disrupt and dismantle Assad’s illicit production of captagon to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
• This amendment passed in the House but was removed during the conference committee negotiations.
• On December 15, 2021, Rep. Hill introduced the CAPTAGON Act.
• On July 14, 2022, the CAPTAGON Act was included in the House-passed version of the FY 2023 NDAA.  
• On July 19, 2022, Rep. Hill led a letter with Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS) and Rep. Brendan Boyle (PA-02), to Secretary of State Antony Blinken requesting that the administration review if Syria meets the criteria of a “major illicit drug producing country” or “major drug-transit country” under the Foreign Assistance Act.
• Unfortunately, the Biden Administration failed to act and left Syria off its list of major drug transit/major illicit drug producing countries.
• On July 26, 2022, Rep. Hill delivered the keynote address at The Heritage Foundation’s event titled, “What’s Next in Syria: Captagon and Assad’s Booming Drug Empire.”
• To watch Rep. Hill’s keynote remarks click HERE.
• On July 29, 2022, the CAPTAGON Act passed out of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
• On September 20, 2022, the CAPTAGON Act passed the U.S. House of Representatives.