Richard Shelby

Regrettably, this was all predictable and avoidable.

I am deeply concerned, however, that the administration's failure to direct the appropriate resources to the crisis at the southern border has resulted in shifting the burden to the Guard.

Because the administration has refused to fund the construction of a comprehensive barrier along the border, it has been compelled to send the National Guard to deal with the consequences.

A lot of people, including this Senator, believe that the request is not enough considering the problems in the world.

Deterrence requires spending our limited resources on both offensive and defensive weapons.

I am concerned about this--what this communicates to both our allies and our adversaries.

We have got to get our arms, one, around the inflation first, and then try to boost our defense capabilities in a dangerous world.

The Department of Navy has played and will continue to play a critical role in the defense of our Nation.

Russia's launched multiple hypersonic weapons as part of their invasion of the Ukraine and China is continuing to develop its own hypersonic weapons.

A complex and evolving security environment requires a serious commitment to our national defense.

I remain concerned that the Air Force budget request is insufficient considering the needed modernization across the inventory with a rapidly evolving threat.

What is the biggest challenge here? Is it lack of interest? Is it lack of - something?

In the area of hypersonics, General, I'll address this to you, we're all pleased to learn that the Army will field its first hypersonic battery in 2023, but we all are concerned and have been a long time about the progress that China and…

I'm also concerned that inflation will reduce the Army's buying power.

Russia's unprovoked war in Ukraine has made some of the Army's capabilities into household names, like the Javelin, the Stinger, and so forth.

I'm concerned, and I think I'm joined by a lot of others in the Senate and the House, about the impact inflation is having on the Army and the Navy and everything else.

The Ukraine, of course, is fighting hard to repel Putin's misguided, I think, and poorly-executed invasion.

We also need a strong Army to deter China and respond to provocations, Iran, North Korea, and radical extremist groups.

As you know, the whole Defense request looks ludicrous to probably the majority of the House and the Senate.

With inflation at the highest levels we've seen in 40 years, the request represents a cut from the 2022 level.

The numbers at the southern border were merely a seasonal surge, but the numbers have only continued to get worse.

Each crossing lines the pockets of some ruthless cartel that are poisoning our country and my state of West Virginia with drugs like fentanyl.

The budget seems to focus more on climate change and a vague equity agenda while making the current border crisis worse.

I'm concerned that replenishment of weapons stocks--particularly Javelins and Stinger missiles--is happening too slowly.