Political Quotes

“with Vladimir Putin's ruthless invasion of Ukraine--and a new generation of threats on the horizon with AI and emerging technologies--America's military readiness has never been more important. That is why, today, I am pleased to speak in support of the National Defense Authorization Act for the fiscal year 2024. I want to thank Chairman Jack Reed of Rhode Island and Ranking Member Roger Wicker of Mississippi for their leadership as well as their staff work. And because of that, the Senate will soon vote on a national defense package that will protect the men and women in uniform, defend our Nation's interests, and support our allies. For the 63rd year in a row, this bipartisan agreement will authorize necessary funding for our Nation's security. I hope we will pass it without delay. This year's National Defense Authorization Act authorizes a topline of nearly $886 billion, including $844 billion for the Pentagon. This is a $28 billion increase compared to our current fiscal year, and a more than $100 billion increase compared to the last year. Now, that may come as a surprise if you listen to the political speeches, given that some voices on the right have cried that our defense spending is falling so far behind. The fact is this: This is the largest defense budget in the history of the United States ever--the largest defense budget ever. Importantly, it provides a more than 5-percent pay increase for our troops and our Pentagon's civilian workforce.…”