Roy Cooper: “I know this amendment comes late in the process and my colleagues are tired of hearing all these National Defense…”

“I know this amendment comes late in the process and my colleagues are tired of hearing all these National Defense Authorization Act amendments, but this one is really important. Already the North Koreans threaten the United States. Other countries could do so. We need to make sure that our missile defense works, and our constituents will not accept excuses. Now, as I say, defense contractors love this approach if they can sell us something that is not proven to work, but this equipment must work. {time} 1900 This Congress got it right in 2015. The MDA is on board with the testing that they have to do. The process now works. Let's not change it, and this amendment would change it for the worse. It would be a defense contractor's dream. Let's not cave in to the lobbyists, let's not give away the American taxpayers' money, and let's make sure that the defense equipment we buy works. By stopping this amendment, we will do so. This amendment would be a giveaway to the defense contracting industry. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.”