The National Defense Authorization Act Deserves Overwhelmingly Bipartisan Vote
‘Yesterday, by a wide bipartisan margin, the Senate began considering this year’s National Defense Authorization Act. The Senate has passed an NDAA each of the last 58 years. We authorize the resources, the equipment, the support systems, and the pay that keep our all-volunteer force the strongest in the world. So from the outside, this process might look routine. But as our colleagues on the Armed Services Committee know best, keeping America safe takes constant hard work and innovation.’
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor regarding the National Defense Authorization Act:
“Yesterday, by a wide bipartisan margin, the Senate began considering this year’s National Defense Authorization Act. The Senate has passed an NDAA each of the last 58 years. We authorize the resources, the equipment, the support systems, and the pay that keep our all-volunteer force the strongest in the world. So from the outside, this process might look routine. But as our colleagues on the Armed Services Committee know best, keeping America safe takes constant hard work and innovation.
“We’ve all seen the recent headlines: ‘Russia successfully tests hypersonic intercept missile that can shoot down Western weapons’. ‘Chinese military technology now close to parity with U.S.’ And in just the last few hours, Iran shot down an American surveillance aircraft in international airspace over the Strait of Hormuz. Fortunately the aircraft was unmanned. Let me say that again: Last night the Iranians shot down a United States aircraft in international airspace. So, it could certainly not be clearer that we need to keep modernizing our national defense, continue rebuilding our readiness, and persist with our new National Defense Strategy.
“Fortunately, this legislation includes billions of dollars for modernizing our capabilities, restoring the Navy’s fleet strength, and investing in the latest generation of combat aircraft. Billions more for critical research efforts aimed at keeping U.S. weapons systems on the cutting edge and ensuring American servicemembers never enter a fair fight. And it prioritizes greater efficiency and transparency at the Pentagon, so we can better support military families through the sacrifices of service.
“So again I’d like to thank Chairman Inhofe and Ranking Member Reed for guiding the committee process. I hope the Senate can work through this legislation swiftly and give it the overwhelming bipartisan vote it deserves.”
Related Issues: NDAA, America's Military
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