Patrick Leahy: “the House came together with the Senate to raise the debt limit, which I think was good because another closedown of our…”

“the House came together with the Senate to raise the debt limit, which I think was good because another closedown of our government would have been disastrous. So I am proud, as President pro tempore, to sign the joint resolution that raises the debt limit, and that will go now to the President. The Speaker signed it, I have signed it, and now the President will be able to sign the bill. I was very, very proud to do that. S. 1605 Mr. President, on another matter, we are going to soon have the opportunity to vote on passage of the fiscal year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act, the NDAA. As they do every year, I am sure Senators will get out press releases touting all of the things in this bill that they support, as I do: a pay raise for the military, increases for medical research, investments to counter Chinese aggression. These are things all worth talking about, but let's be honest and go beyond the rhetoric, tell the American people about what we are doing and what we are not. We can stand here on the Senate floor--we can do it back home--and declare our unwavering support for our troops and their families, can claim to support a strong national defense, but until we put our money where our mouth is and provide the funding we say we support, then those words ring hollow. It is only rhetoric. Now, the NDAA is an important piece of legislation, and I applaud those Senators who put it together. It sets overarching policy for the Department of Defense.…”