Richard Shelby: “It is so important; competition.”

As Senator Shelby at our Senate testimony hearing last March pointed out to us, we must maintain what we have before we can build new, and I think he hits the mark head-on.

And let's not forget China as it continues to build military capability and capacity at an unprecedented pace.

Regrettably, this was all predictable and avoidable.

today I come to the Senate floor for what will probably be one of my last times--perhaps not my last time but close. I want to start off by thanking the people of Alabama, my home State. They have put their trust in me for more than 50…