Congress Is Looking To Ban Military-Sponsored ‘Pay For Patriotism’ NFL Salutes

Earlier this year, NJ.com reported that the DoD had spent over $6 million dollars in salutes to military and other advertisements disguised as honoring the military at NFL games. At the time the DoD said that the displays were a useful recruitment tool but it seems like many in Congress disagree and want to put an end to the military sponsored salutes at NFL games.

Congress is currently preparing to approve a bill that would ban the DoD from spending money on saluting U.S. troops at taxpayer expense during sporting events.

via NJ.com

“Those of us go to sporting events and see them honoring the heroes,” U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) told NJ.com in May. “You get a good feeling in your heart. Then to find out they‘re doing it because they’re compensated for it, it leaves you underwhelmed. It seems a little unseemly.”

“At a time of crippling budget cuts under sequestration, the Defense Department can’t afford to waste its limited resources for the benefit of sports leagues that rake in billions of dollars a year,” John McCain said on the Senate floor.

The passing of the bill is still in debate and currently up in the air. If it passes, the bill would also affect contracts that the DOD has with multiple professional sports leagues including the NBA, Nascar, MLB and the NCAA.

h/t Deadspin

Jorge Alonso BroBible avatar
Brobible sports editor. Jorge is a Miami native and lifelong Heat fan. He has been covering the NBA, MLB and NFL professionally for almost 10 years, specializing in digital media.