[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 94 (Thursday, June 7, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3278-S3279]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                  National Defense Authorization Bill

  Mr. MORAN. Madam President, I want to speak briefly about the 
National Defense Authorization Act, which will soon be our topic of 
business.
  I compliment the Armed Services Committee for their diligence and 
their efforts to authorize appropriations for our Armed Forces in a 
very thoughtful and deliberative manner.
  I have submitted several amendments. I want to talk about a 
particular one to that underlying bill, amendment No. 2269, which is 
cosponsored by the senior Senator from Kansas, Mr. Roberts, as well as 
Senator Gillibrand from New York and the Democratic leader, Senator 
Schumer from New York.
  Our amendment takes the same approach that the committee takes by 
addressing the Army's internal process on force structure--to 
thoughtfully deliberate how and where the Army makes smart investments, 
which includes the stationing decisions for soldiers and families that 
have a consequence not only on those soldiers and families but also on 
the cost of defending our country for decades to come.
  Fortunately, both the Department of Defense and the Army are now 
experiencing a much-needed period of time in which there is growth--
opportunities for us to spend additional dollars to defend our Nation. 
Our Armed Forces are modernizing, and they are increasing their 
readiness and lethality to be in a position to better deter, confront, 
and defeat adversaries in a security environment more complex and 
volatile than possibly anytime in our country's history, certainly 
within recent time. During this moment of growth, the Army ought not 
miss the opportunity to conduct due diligence in all of their decisions 
and invest wisely to pay down the cost in the future.
  The Army is focusing on reform and seeking to maximize the value of 
every dollar, to operate transparently, and to appropriately use the 
resources that the Congress has entrusted to them. They are taxpayer 
dollars. With this focus on reform, transparency, and on using every 
dollar wisely, this amendment No. 2269 helps the Army maximize the 
value of every dollar, operate transparently with Congress, and 
appropriately use the resources entrusted to them.
  I have been working with Army staff and senior leadership since 
February of this year to better understand their process, and I thank 
them for their efforts and the straightforward conversations we have 
had during this process.
  Based upon our conversations and testimony, my amendment codifies the 
transparency they are seeking and updates to the Army's stationing 
process that will better ensure that the Army

[[Page S3279]]

is making wiser decisions, more cost-effective decisions, and are 
making decisions that are beneficial in the long term.
  Stationing decisions are long-term decisions. They will impact the 
Army for many years to come. If we have learned anything from recent 
budget cycles, as the Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Neller, 
said before our Appropriations Defense Subcommittee several times, it 
is that the only certainty is uncertainty.
  The Army has the benefit of a growing budget right now, but in future 
years, there will surely be periods of fiscal stress and uncertainty 
where smart investments today will be paid forward.
  Our intent with the amendment is to support the Army in making 
decisions based on fair, open, and comprehensive data--particularly 
long-term cost factors--that will help the Army save dollars in future 
years. Those savings can be put where they are desperately needed--
toward training, supporting our soldiers and their families, sustaining 
our weapons, and increasing the Army's readiness and lethality.
  I appreciate the help I have had from the Armed Services Committee, 
and I appreciate the chairman, Senator McCain, and his staff. I also 
appreciate very much my colleague from Oklahoma, Senator Inhofe, for 
his efforts in this regard. I appreciate their interest in my 
amendment.
  I will be happy to respond to any questions my colleagues may have on 
the merits of this amendment.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The majority whip.