Political Quotes

“I am grateful to Chairman Inhofe and Ranking Member Reed and their staffs for their work to produce the fiscal year 2021 defense authorization bill. The FY21 NDAA authorizes $740.5 billion in defense spending, up $2 billion from last year. The bill provides a 3-percent pay raise for our troops and includes provisions that support spouse employment, childcare, and improved military housing. It ensures that the United States can defend effectively against threats from Russia, China, and North Korea and invests in key and innovative capabilities and technologies. It includes key provisions I requested to boost efforts at Rock Island Arsenal, address military sexual trauma, and protect the health of our military communities from dangerous chemicals. But this year, we take up the NDAA during a global pandemic, record unemployment, and calls to address racial injustice. The bill touches on some of these issues. It authorizes $44 million for vaccine and medical research related to COVID-19 and expands benefits for Active Duty and National Guard personnel involved in COVID response. I am pleased that it includes a provision authored by Senator Warren to require DOD to remove names, symbols, and other displays honoring the Confederacy. If we want to move toward a more just society, we cannot continue to honor Confederate leaders who committed treasonous atrocities in order to preserve slavery.…”