[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 98 (Wednesday, June 13, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3863-S3864]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BILL

  Mr. McCONNELL. On another matter, Mr. President, last week, Secretary 
of Defense Mattis met with our NATO allies in Brussels. He offered an 
important reminder: ``Threats to our collective security have not 
waned.'' In other words, it remains a challenging time to defend our 
Nation, our interests, and our values.
  Secretary Mattis has been consistent. Our new national defense 
strategy makes this clear. Though we face a constant threat from 
international terrorism, our Nation must also enhance our capabilities 
for a renewed era of international competition among great powers.
  He, along with our senior military commanders, have shared this 
message with Congress time and again. They have detailed our 
servicemembers' pressing needs and explained the importance of steady 
resources in the face of evolving threats. We have heard them loud and 
clear.
  Earlier this year, our bipartisan spending agreement eliminated 
harmful, arbitrary limits on defense spending and delivered the largest 
year-on-year increase in funding for our military in 15 years. Now it 
is time to build on this progress and pass our 58th annual Defense 
authorization bill.
  This year's NDAA is rightfully named for our friend and colleague 
John McCain. It would authorize $716 billion to equip and train 
America's 21st century forces to meet and overcome today's challenges.
  As the Iranian regime continues its aggressive efforts to expand its 
sphere of influence throughout the Middle East, this bill will empower 
our forces to support our strategic partnerships in the region.
  As China continues testing the boundaries of its power in the Pacific 
region, the NDAA will extend the authority of the Indo-Pacific maritime 
security initiative and extend the reach and readiness of naval and air 
forces within the U.S. Pacific Command.
  As Russia persists in its efforts to destabilize western democracies 
and sow doubt within NATO, the bill before us would enhance 
multilateral security

[[Page S3864]]

cooperation throughout the alliance and give U.S. Cyber Command the 
resources to disrupt, deter, and defeat cyber aggression.
  The legislation before us sends a clear message to our men and women 
in uniform. It tells them that we have their backs. After years of 
uncertain funding and arbitrary funding limits, we have their backs. In 
the face of diverse and evolving threats, we have their backs.
  When I vote, I will do it to tell the brave Kentuckians serving at 
home and abroad that we have their backs. I hope that each of our 
colleagues will do the same.
  This bill was crafted in a thorough, bipartisan committee process and 
was modified to include more than 40 amendments. I look forward to 
concluding our consideration and passing this NDAA very soon.

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