[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 188 (Thursday, November 16, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Page S7279]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                  National Defense Authorization Bill

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, just a moment ago, the Senate acted to 
send the President one of the most important policy bills we consider 
each year--the National Defense Authorization Act.
  Not only will this legislation authorize the resources, capabilities, 
pay, and benefits our men and women in uniform need to perform their 
missions, but this year's bill also goes further. It takes a notable 
step toward authorizing the resources needed to start rebuilding our 
military and restoring combat readiness.
  It will help improve our missile defense capabilities and better 
prepare us to deal with cyber threats. It will authorize a well-
deserved pay raise for our men and women in uniform while providing for 
continued reform of the benefits they and their families rely upon, and 
it will support the thousands of military servicemembers and families 
serving at military installations in Kentucky and in the Kentucky 
National Guard.
  Further, this bill strives to bring reform to the Pentagon. As 
Senator McCain said of the NDAA a few months ago, it will ``[build] 
upon the sweeping reforms that Congress has passed in recent years.'' 
He is right, and none of this would have been possible without him, 
without his leadership.
  I think I can speak for everyone in this Chamber when I say that our 
friend Senator McCain has served with distinction as chairman of the 
Armed Services Committee. I know the ranking member on his committee, 
Senator Reed, thinks so as well. I know a lot of Members on both sides 
of the aisle do too.
  Senator McCain's commitment to our men and women in uniform is 
obvious, and it is unwavering. He respects these brave Americans 
immensely; he cares about them deeply; and he understands better than 
just about anyone how important a bill like this is to them, not only 
on a policy level but on a personal level as well.
  The NDAA he worked so hard to pass has now cleared both Chambers. It 
is headed to the President's desk. Soon, it will become law. When it 
does, it will stand as yet another testament to the hard work, 
dedication, and unflappable determination of our colleague and friend 
Senator John McCain--truly, an American hero.