Bill Keating: “Each year we gather and get information from our top security officials. There are three issues that are existential…”

“Each year we gather and get information from our top security officials. There are three issues that are existential that are at the top of the list: nuclear war, pandemics, and climate change. Those are the big three. The gentleman from Pennsylvania might have his own opinions, but I dare say he is far out of step with the priorities of all of our defense leaders and our top security officials. In terms of being efficient, this couldn't be more efficient. Instead of creating new bureaucracies within the Department of Defense, we are taking an existing framework that is there globally by using our embassies. We are being more efficient, reducing more expense, and reducing more bureaucracies in a way to deal with this most important issue. Again, I urge all of my colleagues to join with me on this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.”