[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 81 (Monday, May 23, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E770]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017

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                               speech of

                           HON. LOIS FRANKEL

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 18, 2016

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 4909) to 
     authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2017 for military 
     activities of the Department of Defense and for military 
     construction, to prescribe military personnel strengths for 
     such fiscal year, and for other purposes:

  Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Chair, this amendment includes my 
provision expressing Congress's strong support of the United States' 
continued leadership in one of the world's most important 
partnerships--The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). President 
Obama has called NATO ``the most successful alliance in human 
history.'' That's because NATO is rooted in the bedrock principle of 
collective defense--that we are stronger together than we are apart. 
This principle is built on the common values of the 28 members--
democracy, freedom, and self-government.
  Today, more than 18,000 troops are promoting these values in six NATO 
operations. From assisting Afghan security forces to defending against 
Russian expansionism, NATO is instrumental in advancing global security 
and democracy. I've been privileged to help represent the United States 
at the NATO Parliamentary Assembly for the past three years, where I 
engage with lawmakers from our NATO partners on today's pressing 
security challenges.
  Some have called NATO obsolete. They are wrong. NATO could not be 
more relevant today given the dynamic threats we and our allies face. 
The United States' continued leadership is key to NATO's ability to 
address the evolving threats of the 21st century. I urge adoption of 
the amendment.

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