[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 188 (Thursday, November 16, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7287-S7288]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                  National Defense Authorization Bill

  Mrs. FISCHER. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about the National 
Defense Authorization Act. The process of negotiating the annual 
defense bill is one that has a long and important history on Capitol 
Hill.
  This afternoon, the Senate voted to pass a conference report, 
continuing a tradition of 55 consecutive years in which the National 
Defense Authorization Act has been a must-pass bill for the Congress. 
People have a habit these days of assuming that Congress cannot pass 
major legislation, but this bill is a testament to the fact that when 
it comes to supporting our men and women in uniform, we work together 
to provide them with the support they need. I am happy to say that this 
year, we are carrying on this proud tradition.
  This year's National Defense Authorization Act was passed by 
overwhelming bipartisan majorities in both the Senate and the House. As 
a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I have been proud to 
do my part to help craft this bill and to be a part of the process.
  We live in a rapidly changing world, and, unfortunately, one that 
presents a growing number of threats and challenges that our military 
must face. Across the globe, we have witnessed the rise of dangerous 
new threats that make the mission of our warfighters even more 
challenging. In Europe, Vladimir Putin has shown a complete disregard 
for international law and order and threatens key allies and 
democracies that underpin the democratic backbone of Europe. In the 
Pacific, we face a nuclear-armed dictator in North Korea who murders 
his own people while threatening mass death and destruction to the 
United States and to our allies. In the Middle East, we have witnessed 
the rapid and fearsome emergence of radical extremist groups like ISIS, 
whose barbarism shocks the world. Their horrific acts of bloodshed show 
just how dangerous this warped ideology is, and the efforts of the men 
and women in uniform have played a critical role in the fight to stem 
this dark tide.
  Unfortunately, this same ideology of radical extremism is finding new 
followers in Europe, Africa, and Asia. These threats demand that we be 
ready. The fact is that the United States has faced challenges before, 
and if one thing holds true throughout history, it is that our Armed 
Forces will be called upon to defeat the enemies of freedom and 
safeguard this Nation. For them to succeed, the Congress must provide 
the men and women in uniform the support they need to execute their 
missions. That is why I am so proud to stand before you today and speak 
about the National Defense Authorization Act.
  This legislation sends a clear message: Now is the time that we begin 
to rebuild our military. Contained in this bill is the necessary 
funding to start filling the gaps and ensuring our force remains the 
best in the world. This includes increases to the size of the Army, 
Navy, Air Force, Reserves, and our National Guard. It also means that 
new, battle-ready systems are going to get the funding they need to be 
put in the field as quickly as possible. On land, the NDAA authorizes 
funding for 85 Abrams tank upgrades and 93 Bradley fighting vehicles. 
At sea, it revitalizes our fleet, authorizing 13 new ships for our 
Navy. In the air, it provides 90 new F-35 aircraft and 53 UH-60M Black 
Hawk helicopters.
  Across all of these domains, the fiscal year 2018 NDAA authorizes 
funding for critical modernization priorities to help ensure that on 
every battlefield the men and women of America's Armed Forces have the 
resources they need to complete the missions they are given.
  I serve as chair of the Armed Services Committee's Subcommittee on 
Strategic Forces, and my top priority has been the modernization of our 
nuclear forces and the Department of Energy's nuclear weapons complex.
  This bill strongly supports nuclear modernization and makes a number 
of other key investments within the subcommittee's jurisdiction. First, 
the conference report builds on important provisions included in the 
versions that passed both the House and the Senate this year, and it 
includes the administration's request for additional missile defense 
funding, submitted earlier this month. In total, the bill authorizes an 
additional $4.4 billion above the level requested by the President when 
the budget was initially submitted to improve our missile defense 
systems. This includes a significant expansion of our Ground-based 
Midcourse Defense system and authorizes resources to begin construction 
of another 20 interceptor silos at Fort Greely, AK. To further enhance 
the system's effectiveness, the bill makes valuable investments in the 
network of radars and other sensors that support the system's 
operations. The bill also contains reasonable reforms to our military 
space enterprise that are designed to achieve a more streamlined and 
agile system that is more responsive to the needs of our warfighters.
  Furthermore, the bill improves the oversight and management of our 
nuclear command and control architecture. Often overlooked, these 
programs form the connective tissue between our national leadership and 
our nuclear forces. Their reliability and resilience are vital to the 
effectiveness of our nuclear deterrent.
  As the specter of great power conflict returns and the threat from a 
nuclear-armed North Korea continues to grow, our missile defense and 
nuclear capabilities will play an increasingly important role in 
protecting our homeland. I look forward to continuing to work with my 
colleagues to further modernize and strengthen these vital capabilities 
to ensure that we stay ahead of the threats that our Nation faces.
  Beyond the strategic forces portfolio, this bill recognizes that we 
must also rebuild our readiness and military infrastructure here at 
home, which is why we have included funding increases in the bill to 
support 90 percent of the requirements for facilities sustainment, as 
well as a significant increase for facilities restoration and 
modernization. This means newly authorized funding to restore and 
modernize facilities and infrastructure ranging from barracks and 
hospitals to runways and hangers.
  But let's not forget the most important part of our effort in 
crafting this bill, and that is providing for the one asset we can 
never replace: our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines. The people 
who wear the uniform are more valuable than any weapons system. The 
dedication, sacrifice, and honor they exemplify every day is why we 
stand here today and enjoy the freedoms this country has to offer. For 
that reason, included in this bill is the largest pay raise for our 
troops in 8 years.
  We have also permanently preserved special survivor indemnity 
allowance

[[Page S7288]]

payments to surviving military spouses. There are more than 60,000 
Americans whose spouses have died on Active Duty or during retirement 
and, as a result of this legislation, this important payment will no 
longer exist on a year-by-year basis, but it will be preserved 
indefinitely.
  Make no mistake, these are challenging times for our Nation as the 
world is becoming an increasingly complex place. Now more than ever, we 
are asking our military to tackle difficult problems and to face 
adversaries who consistently seek new ways to do us harm.
  No matter the day, no matter the situation, America's Armed Forces 
stand ready to answer the call and protect our Nation. We need to 
uphold our solemn duty as Members of the Senate and keep faith with 
those who wear the uniform by giving them the tools they need.
  The 55-year legacy of passing the National Defense Authorization Act 
did not happen by accident. It has happened because Members of this 
body know and Members of this body recognize that this bill represents 
a promise to our servicemembers. It is a promise that, as you stand in 
harm's way, far from your families and loved ones, we stand with you. 
When you are deployed during a holiday or a special occasion, as many 
members of our own Nebraska National Guard will be this Thanksgiving, 
we stand with you. During late nights and early mornings in the cold, 
in the heat, in battle, and in peacetime, we stand with you.
  Passing the National Defense Authorization Act means keeping our end 
of the promise to those who serve. As a Member of the Senate Armed 
Services Committee, it has been my honor to play a part in helping to 
craft this year's bill, and I would like to thank our chairman, Senator 
John McCain, for his leadership in guiding the committee through the 
process. I would also like to thank America's men and women in uniform 
for all that they do to keep us safe.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. SASSE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.