On the recordDecember 11, 2023
Mr. President, this week, at long last, the Senate will vote on the National Defense Authorization Act conference report. Each year, the Defense Authorization Act is how we demonstrate our support for the men and women in uniform--how they are paid, how they are equipped, how they are trained--and how our alliances are strengthened. Given the incredible number of threats that exist in today's world, preserving our military readiness has never been more important. There is a war in the Middle East, a war in Europe, and growing tensions in the Indo-Pacific. I was reading this morning there are more wars and conflicts today than there have been literally at almost any time in history. We live in a dangerous world, and maintaining our paramount strength and the deterrence that flows from that is absolutely imperative. That is why the Defense Authorization Act is so important. Each year, it allows us to take stock of the evolving threat landscape and to take corrective actions. This year's Defense bill prioritizes long-term strategic competition with China. It will help replenish our defense stockpiles from the weapons that we have been supplying Ukraine so that they can defend themselves against unjustified Russian aggression, and it will help us maintain our own state of readiness and the deterrent effect that goes along with it. This bill will also support modernization efforts across the board, from the nuclear triad to next- generation weapons.…





