Democratic Rhode Island Rep. Seth Magaziner told his constituents that he secured tens of millions in federal funding for his district, but a vote tally reviewed by the Daily Caller News Foundation shows he voted against the measure.
Magaziner, a two-term lawmaker representing a Democratic-leaning district, took a victory lap in July after five of his amendments were incorporated into an annual House defense appropriations bill. However, the Rhode Island Democrat ultimately voted against the legislation containing the amendments, which provided for $39 million in coastal national defense priorities.
“I am pleased that this year’s defense appropriations bill includes key priorities for the U.S. Navy and for Rhode Island workers who support the country’s strong national defense,” Magaziner said in a press release announcing the federal funding. “I fought to include these amendments so Rhode Island can continue to lead in defense research, development, and innovation, making our country more secure.”
Magaziner did not disclose that he opposed the full-year defense appropriations bill on the House floor in July.
The vote broke largely along party lines with just five House Democrats voting for the defense measure and three Republicans opposing it.
A spokesperson for Magaziner did not respond to the DCNF’s multiple requests for comment.
WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 04: Rep. Seth Magaziner (D-RI), with Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) and Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-CA), speaks during the We Choose To Fight: Nobody Elected Elon Rally at the U.S. Department Of The Treasury on February 04, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for MoveOn)
The $831.5 billion defense funding bill included a 3.8% pay increase for military personnel and funding for President Donald Trump’s “Golden Dome” missile defense system and his efforts to combat drug trafficking among other provisions.
The sprawling legislation also contained provisions that Magaziner said he authored, including $13.3 million to strengthen coastal defense and infrastructure priorities and $10 million in submarine technological upgrades.
Magaziner’s office also highlighted a local outlet’s reporting on the Rhode Island Democrat allegedly securing the five coastal defense-related amendments.
Neither the outlet nor Magaziner’s office mentioned that he voted “no” on the underlying bill.
The National Republican Congressional Committee, House Republicans’ campaign arm, slammed Magaziner for taking credit for pieces of legislation that he voted against.
“Seth Magaziner is a complete and total fraud. Instead of putting partisan politics aside for the good of his constituents, Magaziner bowed to the left, and then had the audacity to lie about it,” NRCC spokeswoman Maureen O’Toole said. “Rhode Island deserves better.”
In June 2024, Magaziner also claimed credit for several amendments within a defense policy bill that he opposed.
“Today, Representative Seth Magaziner (RI-02) secured House passage of two amendments he authored in H.R.8070, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25),” Magaziner’s office said in a press release.
Magaziner, however, acknowledged his vote against the bill in the release, citing language restricting taxpayer-funded travel for military personnel seeking abortions.
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